🔗 Share this article

Sam Fender has given the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor cash to the MVT, which functions to save the Britain's small music venues.

Fender was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his new release his work was declared the top album of the past year.

Fender has opted to donate the funds to the MVT, in appreciation of the vital role small stages had in his beginning days.

"I wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the performances I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

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

Recently, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports smaller concert halls.

Fender also participated, generating over £100k on his recent tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The money supported spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to issues arising from water damage, fires and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.

Additional spaces were granted funding support in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that directly benefitted musicians and audiences.

"The idea that funds from shows in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," Fender has said.

He is not the first artist to donate his award prize money to good deeds.

Back when the band earned the prize in the mid-90s for their release their work, lead singer the singer announced that the act would donate their winnings to the organization War Child.

During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite shared her prize between several organizations, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also gave a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to a publication.

In recent years, they contributed their winnings to the community center that nurtured their group, as well as other local music groups.

Also the 1994 recipients M People donated their prize to a charity for MS after a close contact was diagnosed the condition.

"Winning was sufficient," said artist Heather Small. "The cash was the extra but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our success impacted somebody else's life."

Last week, the trust revealed it had rescued a couple of grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under local control.

One venue in Southampton and the second in the city were acquired under the public acquisition initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and music fans who acquire "shares" in the venues.