Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25k award winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.
The star was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his third album the album was chosen as the top album of the past year.
He has chosen to give the cash to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages had in his early career.
"I couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the performances I played around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these locations have shut down – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.
Fender also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds supported venues that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges stemming from water damage, fires and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Some locations obtained financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.
"The idea that revenue from performances in large arenas backs the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just logical," the star has stated.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his award winnings to worthy causes.
When the band received the prize in the year 1996 for their record their work, lead singer Cocker declared that the group would donate their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, musician she divided her prize between several good causes, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to the media.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the community center that nurtured their act, as well as other independent music bodies.
Also the 1994 recipients M People gave their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," stated artist Small. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our winning impacted the lives of others."
Recently, the trust shared it had rescued a couple of small stages in the South East, by bringing them into community ownership.
One venue in that area and the other in Bristol were purchased under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "stakes" in the venues.
