🔗 Share this article

Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the trust for venues, which works to save the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.

Fender was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his latest record his work was named the top album of the previous year.

The musician has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the vital role local spots fulfilled in his initial steps.

"I personally wouldn't be doing this success if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," remarked Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are in difficulty."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, major artists such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which supports smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also participated, collecting over £100k on his live tour to help thirty-eight grassroots venues across Britain.

These funds helped spaces that were facing potential shutdown due to issues arising from floods, fires and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and sound issues.

Other venues received financial assistance in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that helped artists and concertgoers.

"The idea that funds from performances in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just sensible," the star has said.

He is far from the only musician to donate his award winnings to charitable organizations.

In they won the trophy in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, lead singer the singer declared that the group would donate their winnings to the charity War Child.

In 2002, artist Ms Dynamite shared her award across multiple good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they required new equipment," she shared with a publication.

Previously, Ezra Collective donated their funds to the youth organization that developed their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

Additionally 1994 winners they gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was found to have the condition.

"The victory was sufficient," stated artist Heather Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning affected the lives of others."

In the past week, the MVT revealed it had rescued several small stages in that region, by bringing them into local control.

The Joiners in Southampton and the second in the city were bought under the community ownership initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and music fans who buy "stakes" in the venues.