🔗 Share this article

The star has given the entirety of his £25k honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.

The star was awarded the prize on mid-October as his new release People Watching was chosen as the best record of the last 12 months.

The musician has decided to hand the money over to the trust, in appreciation of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.

"I personally wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the performances I did around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which benefits independent venues.

He also joined in, raising more than £100,000 on his recent tour to support 38 grassroots venues across the UK.

The money supported locations that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues arising from flooding, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and sound issues.

Some locations obtained financial assistance in improving facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted performers and fans.

"The idea that money from concerts in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just sensible," Fender has commented.

The musician is far from the only musician to give his honor prize money to worthy causes.

In they received the trophy in the year 1996 for their release the album, lead singer the singer stated that the act would donate their prize money to the organization War Child.

In 2002, musician the artist shared her award between several good causes, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I contributed a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to a publication.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective donated their funds to the community center that developed their act, alongside other grassroots music organisations.

Also the 1994 recipients they contributed their award to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the illness.

"The victory was ample," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the honor. So our success touched another person's life."

Recently, the MVT revealed it had saved a couple of local spots in the South East, by transferring them to local control.

The Joiners in the city and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the public acquisition initiative, which is backed by a national body and music fans who buy "shares" in the venues.