Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor cash to the trust for venues, which functions to save the United Kingdom's small concert spaces.
The star was awarded the prize on mid-October as his new release the album was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
The musician has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in recognition of the essential function local spots fulfilled in his early career.
"I personally wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," said Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these venues have shut down – roughly 16% of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, major artists including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.
He also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation assisted spaces that were facing potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and sound issues.
Some locations obtained funding support in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted performers and fans.
"The idea that revenue from shows in big venues helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has commented.
He is far from the only musician to contribute his award prize money to charitable organizations.
Back when they received the prize in 1996 for their release their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the act would give their cash to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, artist she shared her prize among multiple charities, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required better apparatus," she shared with a publication.
Previously, Ezra Collective gave their funds to the local youth club that supported their act, alongside other local music groups.
Additionally 1994 winners the group donated their award to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.
"Winning was quite enough," remarked artist the singer. "The cash was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched another person's life."
In the past week, the trust announced it had saved two grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to local control.
One venue in Southampton and the other in that location were bought under the public acquisition initiative, which is funded by a national body and supporters who purchase "shares" in the venues.
