The musician contributes £25,000 cash award to small live spaces

The artist holding the award in his hometown
Sam Fender was awarded the honor recently in his hometown

The artist has given the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the MVT, which works to preserve the Britain's independent concert spaces.

Fender was awarded the award on mid-October as his third album his work was named the top album of the last 12 months.

He has opted to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the crucial part grassroots venues played in his beginning days.

"As an artist couldn't be pursuing this success if it weren't for all the gigs I performed around the region, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," remarked Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.

He also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to help numerous local spots across Britain.

The money helped locations that were facing possible closure due to challenges caused by water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.

Some locations obtained financial assistance in modernizing amenities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.

"The notion that funds from performances in big venues supports the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has stated.

Pulp in concert
Pulp are one of the many acts who gave their honor funds to non-profits

He is far from the only musician to give his honor prize money to good deeds.

In they received the award in 1996 for their album the album, lead singer the singer announced that the act would contribute their prize money to the charity War Child.

That year, musician she divided her bounty between a few good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I contributed a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required better apparatus," the artist shared with the media.

Previously, the band donated their winnings to the community center that developed their band, in addition to other local music groups.

Also 1994 winners the group donated their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.

"The victory was ample," said singer Heather Small. "The prize was the extra but we could do without the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched the lives of others."

In the past week, the trust announced it had rescued two grassroots venues in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.

One venue in that area and The Croft in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by the arts council and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.

Rebecca Bradley
Rebecca Bradley

A seasoned journalist with over a decade of experience covering global affairs and digital innovation, passionate about storytelling that connects people.