Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the trust for venues, which works to preserve the United Kingdom's independent music venues.
He was presented with the award on mid-October as his latest record his work was declared the top album of the past year.
He has opted to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the gigs I performed around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, top acts such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to support thirty-eight local spots across the UK.
These funds assisted venues that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by water damage, fires and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Other venues were granted monetary aid in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.
"The concept that funds from performances in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has stated.
Fender is far from the only musician to give his honor winnings to worthy causes.
In the band won the award in 1996 for their album the album, frontman Cocker declared that the group would donate their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer the artist shared her prize across a few good causes, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," she shared with the media.
Previously, the band contributed their prize money to the local youth club that developed their group, in addition to other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients M People gave their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was diagnosed the condition.
"Winning was sufficient," remarked vocalist the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the honor. So our success touched another person's life."
Recently, the MVT announced it had protected two grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.
One venue in that area and the second in the city were bought under the community ownership program, which is backed by the arts council and supporters who buy "ownership units" in the properties.
