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Sam Fender donates twenty-five thousand pounds award winnings to grassroots concert halls

The artist accepting the award in the North East
The musician was awarded the honor recently in his hometown

The artist has donated the full amount of his £25k award winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to preserve the Britain's independent concert spaces.

The star was presented with the prize on October 16 as his new release his work was named the top album of the last 12 months.

He has opted to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.

"I wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – roughly 16 percent of the total UK scene.

Recently, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help local stages.

Sam Fender also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight small stages across the UK.

The donation supported locations that were dealing with possible closure due to issues caused by flooding, blazes and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.

Some locations were granted funding support in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that directly benefitted musicians and concertgoers.

"The notion that funds from shows in big venues helps the smaller venues, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has commented.

Pulp on stage
They are one of the many acts who contributed their honor prize money to charity

He is among several artists to donate his honor winnings to charitable organizations.

In Pulp earned the trophy in the year 1996 for their release the album, frontman the singer stated that the group would donate their prize money to the charity War Child.

During 2002, rapper and singer the artist split her prize among multiple good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"And I gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite shared with the media.

In recent years, the band gave their winnings to the local youth club that supported their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.

Also winners that year the group donated their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was diagnosed the illness.

"The victory was ample," said artist the singer. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected the lives of others."

Last week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had rescued several small stages in the South East, by placing them under local control.

The first in the city and The Croft in the city were purchased under the public acquisition initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and music fans who purchase "shares" in the buildings.

BJ
About the author

Brad Johnson

Liam Ashford is a veteran gamer and tech journalist with a passion for indie titles and retro gaming.

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