Sam Fender contributes his £25k prize award winnings to grassroots concert halls

The artist has given the full amount of his £25k award cash to the MVT, which operates to protect the Britain's small concert spaces.

The star was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his third album People Watching was declared the best record of the last 12 months.

Fender has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in recognition of the vital role small stages fulfilled in his early career.

"I personally wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I did around the area, and further afield, when I was starting out," said Sam Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are facing challenges."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

Over the past year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits local stages.

He also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.

These funds helped locations that were confronting possible closure due to issues stemming from flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces were granted monetary aid in improving amenities and gear that helped artists and fans.

"The notion that revenue from concerts in major spaces supports the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.

Fender is not the first artist to contribute his award winnings to worthy causes.

Back when Pulp received the prize in 1996 for their release their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the act would give their cash to the non-profit the charity.

In 2002, artist the artist divided her prize between several good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment," she explained to the media.

In recent years, they gave their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their band, as well as other independent music bodies.

Additionally the 1994 recipients they contributed their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.

"The victory was sufficient," stated singer Small. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the cake. So our winning impacted another person's life."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had saved several local spots in that region, by placing them under community ownership.

One venue in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the properties.