Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25,000 award winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which works to preserve the United Kingdom's small live music spots.
Fender was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his new release his work was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.
The musician has chosen to hand the money over to the MVT, in recognition of the essential function local spots fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the shows I performed around the region, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these locations have shut down – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, well-known musicians such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits independent venues.
He also participated, collecting more than £100,000 on his live tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across the UK.
The money supported locations that were facing potential shutdown due to difficulties stemming from flooding, fires and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.
Some locations were granted financial assistance in modernizing amenities and gear that positively impacted artists and audiences.
"The idea that money from performances in large arenas supports the local stages, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has said.
The musician is far from the only musician to give his honor winnings to worthy causes.
Back when they won the trophy in 1996 for their release their work, lead singer Cocker stated that the band would donate their winnings to the organization the charity.
That year, artist Ms Dynamite split her award across several charities, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I gave a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked better apparatus," the artist shared with a publication.
In recent years, Ezra Collective donated their funds to the local youth club that developed their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally 1994 winners the group contributed their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.
"The victory was quite enough," remarked vocalist the singer. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched somebody else's life."
Last week, the MVT revealed it had saved two grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.
One venue in that area and the second in that location were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the buildings.
