🔗 Share this article

Sam Fender has handed over the entirety of his £25k award cash to the MVT, which works to protect the Britain's grassroots music venues.

Fender was presented with the prize on mid-October as his third album People Watching was chosen as the best record of the last 12 months.

The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the trust, in appreciation of the vital role small stages had in his early career.

"As an artist couldn't be pursuing this success if it weren't for all the shows I played around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about 16% of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, major artists like the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which supports independent venues.

Sam Fender also took part, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to support numerous local spots across Britain.

These funds assisted venues that were dealing with possible closure due to issues arising from water damage, fires and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.

Some locations obtained funding support in modernizing facilities and gear that helped performers and fans.

"The notion that revenue from concerts in big venues helps the local stages, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has said.

The musician is far from the only musician to donate his award winnings to good deeds.

When they won the trophy in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, frontman the singer stated that the group would contribute their winnings to the non-profit War Child.

That year, musician she split her award between a few organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed new equipment," the artist explained to a publication.

Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their act, alongside other grassroots music organisations.

And 1994 winners they contributed their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was found to have the condition.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," remarked singer Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched somebody else's life."

Last week, the trust announced it had rescued several small stages in the South East, by transferring them to local control.

The Joiners in the city and The Croft in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is backed by the arts council and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.