The musician contributes his £25k prize cash award to independent music venues

The artist holding his trophy in his hometown
He received the prestigious award in October in Newcastle

The star has donated the full amount of his £25,000 honor cash to the trust for venues, which functions to protect the UK's grassroots concert spaces.

Fender was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his third album the album was named the top album of the past year.

The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function small stages had in his beginning days.

"I would not have achieved this success if it weren't for all the performances I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."

From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the total UK scene.

In the last year, top acts like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by including a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits smaller concert halls.

He also joined in, raising over £100k on his recent tour to help numerous local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

These funds supported venues that were dealing with imminent closure due to difficulties arising from flooding, fires and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.

Other venues obtained financial assistance in improving amenities and gear that helped artists and concertgoers.

"The notion that funds from shows in major spaces supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.

Pulp members in concert
The group are one example who gave their award winnings to good causes

The musician is among several artists to donate his honor winnings to good deeds.

When they earned the award in the year 1996 for their album their work, lead singer the singer declared that the band would give their winnings to the charity War Child.

During 2002, rapper and singer she shared her award between a few organizations, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," she shared with the media.

Previously, the band gave their winnings to the community center that nurtured their group, as well as other local music groups.

Additionally 1994 winners the group donated their prize to a charity for MS after a close contact was diagnosed the disease.

"The victory was ample," stated singer Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched the lives of others."

Last week, the trust shared it had rescued two small stages in that region, by transferring them to public stewardship.

The first in the city and the other in the city were purchased under the public acquisition initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and supporters who buy "shares" in the properties.

Michael Warner
Michael Warner

Elena is a life coach and writer passionate about empowering individuals through mindfulness and actionable self-improvement techniques.