🔗 Share this article

Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound award prize money to the MVT, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.

He was given the award on October 16 as his latest record People Watching was chosen as the top album of the previous year.

He has opted to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the crucial part local spots had in his beginning days.

"I would not have achieved this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.

In the last year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.

He also participated, generating over £100k on his recent tour to help 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation helped locations that were facing potential shutdown due to challenges stemming from flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Some locations were granted monetary aid in upgrading amenities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and concertgoers.

"The idea that revenue from shows in large arenas supports the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has commented.

He is not the first artist to donate his award funds to charitable organizations.

Back when they won the trophy in the year 1996 for their record the album, vocalist Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would contribute their cash to the non-profit War Child.

That year, rapper and singer the artist split her bounty across a few organizations, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," the artist told the media.

Previously, they gave their funds to the local youth club that supported their group, alongside other independent music bodies.

Additionally the 1994 recipients they donated their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the disease.

"Winning was sufficient," said singer Heather Small. "The money was the bonus but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our winning affected the lives of others."

In the past week, the trust announced it had saved two local spots in that region, by placing them under public stewardship.

One venue in that area and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the community ownership scheme, which is backed by Arts Council England and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the venues.