The artist donates £25,000 cash award to independent concert halls

The artist has donated the entirety of his £25k honor winnings to the MVT, which functions to preserve the Britain's small live music spots.

Fender was given the cheque on mid-October as his new release People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the past year.

Fender has decided to donate the funds to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his beginning days.

"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I did around the region, and further afield, when I was starting out," said Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

Over the past year, well-known musicians including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits independent venues.

Fender also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to help 38 local spots across Britain.

The money assisted spaces that were confronting possible closure due to issues arising from water damage, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and sound issues.

Other venues received monetary aid in modernizing facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and fans.

"The notion that funds from concerts in big venues backs the local stages, where it all starts for performers like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has said.

Fender is not the first artist to contribute his award prize money to charitable organizations.

In they received the trophy in the mid-90s for their album their work, frontman Cocker announced that the act would give their cash to the charity War Child.

That year, artist she shared her award among a few good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with a publication.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the local youth club that supported their group, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

Additionally 1994 winners the group gave their prize to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the condition.

"The victory was quite enough," said vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the cake. So our winning touched the lives of others."

In the past week, the trust revealed it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.

One venue in that area and the second in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by a national body and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the venues.