The artist contributes his £25k prize cash award to small concert halls
Sam Fender has donated the full amount of his £25k honor cash to the MVT, which operates to protect the UK's independent concert spaces.
Fender was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his latest record the album was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.
Fender has opted to hand the money over to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots played in his initial steps.
"I personally would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I performed around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, top acts like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their admission fees, which supports independent venues.
Sam Fender also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to support numerous grassroots venues across the UK.
The donation supported venues that were dealing with possible closure due to difficulties arising from floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.
Other venues obtained financial assistance in improving facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and audiences.
"The notion that revenue from shows in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.
The musician is far from the only musician to contribute his award winnings to charitable organizations.
In they won the award in 1996 for their record the album, frontman Cocker stated that the group would give their prize money to the organization the charity.
During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite divided her bounty among multiple charities, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," the artist told outlets.
In recent years, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the community center that developed their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.
Also the 1994 recipients they donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was found to have the disease.
"The victory was sufficient," remarked singer the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the extra, because we had the honor. So our success touched somebody else's life."
Recently, the MVT shared it had rescued several local spots in south-east England, by transferring them to community ownership.
One venue in the city and the second in the city were acquired under the community ownership program, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.