The musician gives his £25k prize award winnings to grassroots live spaces
The artist has handed over the complete sum of his £25k award winnings to the MVT, which operates to preserve the Britain's small concert spaces.
Fender was presented with the award on 16 October as his latest record his work was named the top album of the past year.
The musician has opted to give the cash to the MVT, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his initial steps.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the performances I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
Recently, well-known musicians such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by including a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help local stages.
He also joined in, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to support 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation assisted locations that were confronting possible closure due to issues caused by floods, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.
Other venues received monetary aid in modernizing infrastructure and technical equipment that helped performers and audiences.
"The concept that money from performances in major spaces backs the local stages, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has said.
Fender is among several artists to give his honor funds to charitable organizations.
Back when they won the prize in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, frontman the singer stated that the band would contribute their cash to the non-profit the charity.
That year, artist she shared her prize across a few charities, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," the artist shared with a publication.
In recent years, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their group, alongside other independent music bodies.
Additionally winners that year M People donated their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," stated vocalist Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the honor. So our victory impacted another person's life."
Recently, the trust announced it had protected two small stages in that region, by placing them under local control.
One venue in the city and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the venues.