Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25,000 honor winnings to the MVT, which operates to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots concert spaces.
Fender was given the prize on October 16 as his new release People Watching was declared the best record of the last 12 months.
Fender has opted to donate the funds to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function local spots played in his initial steps.
"I personally would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the gigs I performed around the area, and further afield, when I was just getting going," remarked the artist. "These locations are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about 16% of the total UK scene.
In the last year, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their admission fees, which benefits independent venues.
Fender also participated, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist numerous grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money supported venues that were confronting imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from water damage, blazes and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, court cases and noise complaints.
Additional spaces received monetary aid in improving facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and audiences.
"The concept that funds from concerts in big venues helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his award winnings to worthy causes.
In they earned the award in the mid-90s for their record the album, frontman the singer declared that the act would contribute their prize money to the charity the charity.
During 2002, rapper and singer the artist shared her bounty among several charities, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also contributed a grand to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required better apparatus," she shared with outlets.
Previously, the band donated their prize money to the community center that supported their group, as well as other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients the group donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was found to have the illness.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated vocalist the singer. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the honor. So our success impacted the lives of others."
Recently, the trust revealed it had rescued a couple of small stages in the South East, by placing them under local control.
The first in Southampton and the second in that location were bought under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the buildings.
