The musician gives his £25k prize cash award to small music venues

The star has given the entirety of his £25,000 award winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to protect the Britain's small music venues.

He was presented with the award on 16 October as his latest record the album was declared the top album of the previous year.

He has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.

"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the gigs I did around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have ceased operations – roughly 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.

He also participated, raising more than £100,000 on his recent tour to help numerous small stages across the UK.

These funds supported locations that were dealing with possible closure due to difficulties arising from water damage, fires and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.

Additional spaces received financial assistance in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted performers and fans.

"The notion that revenue from shows in big venues backs the local stages, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has stated.

Fender is far from the only musician to give his honor winnings to good deeds.

In the band received the trophy in the mid-90s for their release their work, frontman Cocker announced that the band would donate their cash to the charity War Child.

In 2002, artist the artist divided her award among a few charities, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"And I contributed a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," the artist told a publication.

In recent years, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the community center that developed their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.

Additionally the 1994 recipients M People donated their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was diagnosed the condition.

"The victory was sufficient," said artist the singer. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the honor. So our victory affected the lives of others."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued a couple of local spots in that region, by placing them under community ownership.

The first in the city and the second in the city were bought under the public acquisition initiative, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who acquire "shares" in the buildings.