Sam Fender has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the MVT, which works to save the United Kingdom's grassroots live music spots.
The star was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his new release his work was declared the top album of the last 12 months.
Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function grassroots venues played in his initial steps.
"I personally would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I played around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked Sam Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these locations have ceased operations – roughly 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits smaller concert halls.
He also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight small stages across the UK.
The donation supported spaces that were facing possible closure due to issues caused by floods, fires and personal losses, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Some locations obtained monetary aid in modernizing amenities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.
"The idea that revenue from concerts in big venues supports the independent spots, where it begins for artists like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has commented.
The musician is far from the only musician to contribute his award winnings to charitable organizations.
When Pulp received the prize in the mid-90s for their release the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the act would give their cash to the organization War Child.
That year, musician she divided her bounty across multiple organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also donated a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," the artist explained to the media.
Previously, the band gave their funds to the local youth club that supported their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally winners that year they contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the illness.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the honor. So our winning affected another person's life."
In the past week, the MVT shared it had rescued two grassroots venues in south-east England, by placing them under public stewardship.
The first in that area and the second in the city were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the buildings.
