The musician donates his £25k prize cash award to grassroots music venues
Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25k award cash to the trust for venues, which works to save the UK's small music venues.
He was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his third album the album was declared the best record of the last 12 months.
The musician has chosen to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the essential function grassroots venues played in his beginning days.
"As an artist would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the area, and further afield, when I was starting out," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – about 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits independent venues.
Fender also joined in, generating over £100k on his recent tour to assist numerous local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money assisted venues that were facing imminent closure due to challenges stemming from water damage, blazes and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and noise complaints.
Some locations were granted financial assistance in improving infrastructure and technical equipment that positively impacted musicians and fans.
"The idea that revenue from performances in major spaces helps the independent spots, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," the star has said.
Fender is not the first artist to contribute his award funds to worthy causes.
Back when the band received the trophy in the year 1996 for their record Different Class, vocalist the singer declared that the group would donate their cash to the charity War Child.
That year, musician Ms Dynamite divided her prize between several charities, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," the artist shared with a publication.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective donated their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Also 1994 winners M People gave their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," said vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the honor. So our winning affected another person's life."
Last week, the trust announced it had saved two small stages in that region, by bringing them into community ownership.
One venue in that area and The Croft in Bristol were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.
