Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor cash to the trust for venues, which works to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
He was presented with the award on October 16 as his third album People Watching was named the best record of the last 12 months.
The musician has opted to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part small stages played in his early career.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the performances I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
He also took part, generating over £100k on his recent tour to support thirty-eight grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money assisted spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges stemming from water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Some locations were granted funding support in improving amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and fans.
"The notion that funds from performances in large arenas backs the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has said.
He is among several artists to contribute his award funds to charitable organizations.
In Pulp earned the award in 1996 for their album Different Class, lead singer the singer announced that the act would donate their cash to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite split her bounty between multiple organizations, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I gave a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," the artist shared with outlets.
In recent years, Ezra Collective donated their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their band, as well as other local music groups.
Also the 1994 recipients the group contributed their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.
"The victory was sufficient," stated artist the singer. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the cake. So our winning touched somebody else's life."
In the past week, the MVT shared it had rescued several grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.
One venue in Southampton and the second in that location were purchased under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by a national body and music fans who purchase "shares" in the properties.
