🔗 Share this article

The star has handed over the complete sum of his £25,000 award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the UK's small music venues.

Fender was awarded the prize on 16 October as his new release People Watching was declared the best record of the past year.

Fender has opted to give the cash to the MVT, in appreciation of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.

"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I performed around the area, and further afield, when I was starting out," stated Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, major artists like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to support numerous local spots across Britain.

These funds helped venues that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges caused by floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and sound issues.

Some locations were granted funding support in upgrading amenities and gear that positively impacted performers and fans.

"The idea that funds from performances in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has stated.

The musician is far from the only musician to give his honor funds to good deeds.

In Pulp received the prize in 1996 for their release the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker stated that the band would contribute their prize money to the charity War Child.

That year, musician she split her award across multiple good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite told the media.

Previously, they donated their funds to the youth organization that nurtured their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.

And the 1994 recipients M People contributed their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.

"Winning was sufficient," remarked singer the singer. "The cash was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our winning touched somebody else's life."

Recently, the trust announced it had protected several small stages in that region, by bringing them into local control.

The Joiners in that area and The Croft in the city were bought under the public acquisition initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and music fans who purchase "shares" in the properties.