Sam Fender contributes £25,000 award winnings to grassroots music venues

The artist has given the entirety of his £25k award winnings to the MVT, which functions to protect the Britain's independent concert spaces.

He was given the prize on October 16 as his third album People Watching was declared the best record of the previous year.

He has decided to give the cash to the trust, in appreciation of the vital role small stages played in his early career.

"I personally wouldn't be doing this success if it weren't for all the performances I played around the region, and further afield, when I was starting out," said the artist. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.

Recently, well-known musicians like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which supports local stages.

He also took part, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across Britain.

These funds assisted locations that were facing potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by water damage, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and noise complaints.

Additional spaces obtained monetary aid in upgrading amenities and gear that positively impacted musicians and fans.

"The idea that funds from concerts in big venues helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just logical," the star has commented.

The musician is far from the only musician to contribute his honor winnings to good deeds.

Back when Pulp earned the prize in the mid-90s for their release their work, vocalist Cocker announced that the group would contribute their prize money to the non-profit War Child.

In 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite shared her award between multiple good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they required better apparatus," Ms Dynamite told outlets.

In recent years, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the local youth club that developed their group, alongside other grassroots music organisations.

Also the 1994 recipients the group donated their award to a charity for MS after a friend was identified with the disease.

"The victory was quite enough," said artist Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning impacted another person's life."

Recently, the trust shared it had rescued several grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.

The first in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership program, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.