Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the trust for venues, which works to preserve the Britain's small music venues.
The star was given the cheque on 16 October as his new release People Watching was declared the best record of the previous year.
The musician has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function small stages played in his initial steps.
"I personally wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the region, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these locations have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by including a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.
Fender also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help 38 local spots across Britain.
The donation assisted venues that were facing potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Additional spaces obtained funding support in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and fans.
"The notion that money from shows in large arenas supports the local stages, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.
Fender is among several artists to donate his award prize money to charitable organizations.
Back when they received the prize in the year 1996 for their record their work, vocalist the singer declared that the act would contribute their winnings to the non-profit the charity.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her prize among multiple good causes, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," she shared with a publication.
In recent years, the band gave their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally winners that year they donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was identified with the illness.
"Receiving the award was ample," stated artist the singer. "The prize was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the cake. So our winning touched the lives of others."
In the past week, the MVT shared it had rescued several grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into local control.
The Joiners in that area and The Croft in that location were acquired under the community ownership program, which is supported by a national body and music fans who acquire "ownership units" in the venues.
