The musician donates £25,000 award winnings to grassroots concert halls

The singer receiving the award in the North East
The musician won the honor last month in Newcastle

The artist has donated the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound award cash to the MVT, which functions to save the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.

Fender was given the award on mid-October as his latest record the album was named the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

The musician has opted to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the essential function small stages had in his beginning days.

"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 beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are facing challenges."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

Over the past year, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.

He also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to support 38 local spots across Britain.

The money assisted venues that were dealing with imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and noise complaints.

Other venues were granted monetary aid in improving infrastructure and gear that positively impacted artists and fans.

"The concept that revenue from concerts in major spaces supports the local stages, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.

The band Pulp in concert
They are one of the many acts who contributed their honor funds to non-profits

Fender is far from the only musician to donate his award prize money to good deeds.

When the band earned the trophy in the year 1996 for their album their work, lead singer the singer declared that the band would contribute their cash to the organization War Child.

That year, musician Ms Dynamite shared her bounty among several organizations, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"And I contributed a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," she told a publication.

Previously, they gave their prize money to the youth organization that developed their act, as well as other independent music bodies.

And 1994 winners M People gave their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was found to have the condition.

"Winning was ample," remarked vocalist the singer. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory affected somebody else's life."

Last week, the MVT shared it had saved two local spots in south-east England, by placing them under public stewardship.

The first in that area and the other in the city were purchased under the public acquisition initiative, which is backed by a national body and music fans who purchase "shares" in the venues.

Amber Kelley
Amber Kelley

A seasoned travel writer with over a decade of experience exploring luxury destinations worldwide.