Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound honor prize money to the MVT, which functions to save the United Kingdom's small live music spots.
He was awarded the prize on October 16 as his latest record the album was named the best record of the last 12 months.
Fender has opted to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the vital role local spots had in his beginning days.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these locations have ceased operations – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
Sam Fender also joined in, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight small stages across the UK.
These funds supported spaces that were dealing with possible closure due to issues arising from flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces obtained funding support in upgrading facilities and gear that helped performers and concertgoers.
"The concept that funds from performances in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just common sense," Fender has said.
The musician is far from the only musician to contribute his award funds to worthy causes.
In they received the trophy in 1996 for their album Different Class, vocalist the singer announced that the group would give their prize money to the charity the charity.
In 2002, artist she shared her prize among a few organizations, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also contributed a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked better apparatus," the artist explained to the media.
Previously, they contributed their winnings to the youth organization that supported their band, in addition to other local music groups.
Also winners that year the group donated their award to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the illness.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted the lives of others."
In the past week, the MVT announced it had saved a couple of local spots in south-east England, by placing them under local control.
One venue in Southampton and The Croft in the city were bought under the public acquisition initiative, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the properties.
