The artist has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound award winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to save the United Kingdom's small live music spots.
He was presented with the award on 16 October as his new release the album was declared the best record of the last 12 months.
The musician has opted to donate the funds to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages had in his initial steps.
"I personally wouldn't be doing this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I played around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – approximately 16% of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by adding a modest fee to their admission fees, which supports independent venues.
Sam Fender also participated, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to support 38 grassroots venues across the UK.
The donation supported spaces that were dealing with possible closure due to issues arising from flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and neighbor objections.
Some locations received financial assistance in modernizing infrastructure and technical equipment that helped performers and fans.
"The concept that revenue from concerts in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has commented.
He is not the first artist to contribute his award winnings to charitable organizations.
In they earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their album their work, vocalist Cocker stated that the group would donate their winnings to the organization War Child.
That year, artist she split her bounty among a few good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," the artist told the media.
Previously, the band contributed their funds to the local youth club that developed their group, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Also winners that year the group contributed their award to a charity for MS after a friend was identified with the disease.
"The victory was sufficient," remarked singer Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success touched the lives of others."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had protected several local spots in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
One venue in Southampton and the second in that location were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is funded by the arts council and music fans who buy "shares" in the venues.
Eva de Vries is a passionate book lover and local writer from Eindhoven.
