The artist donates his £25k prize cash award to independent music venues
Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25k award prize money to the trust for venues, which operates to save the UK's independent concert spaces.
The star was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his new release the album was chosen as the top album of the previous year.
He has chosen to give the cash to the trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function grassroots venues had in his initial steps.
"I would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I played around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," stated the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these spaces have shut down – about one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
Recently, major artists such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help local stages.
Sam Fender also took part, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation assisted venues that were facing potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from water damage, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.
Some locations were granted monetary aid in improving amenities and gear that directly benefitted performers and concertgoers.
"The idea that funds from performances in big venues backs the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just sensible," Fender has commented.
The musician is among several artists to give his award funds to worthy causes.
When the band earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their record their work, lead singer the singer stated that the group would contribute their cash to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer the artist split her prize among multiple good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I contributed a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," the artist told outlets.
In recent years, they contributed their prize money to the community center that developed their act, as well as other local music groups.
And the 1994 recipients M People contributed their prize to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the disease.
"Receiving the award was ample," stated artist Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted the lives of others."
Recently, the MVT shared it had saved several local spots in the South East, by placing them under local control.
The first in the city and the second in the city were bought under the public acquisition program, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the properties.