The musician contributes £25,000 cash award to independent music venues

The artist receiving the award in the North East
He received the prestigious award in October in the North East

The artist has donated the full amount of his £25k honor prize money to the MVT, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.

He was given the cheque on 16 October as his latest record the album was named the best record of the previous year.

He has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role local spots fulfilled in his beginning days.

"I would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," said Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."

From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits smaller concert halls.

He also joined in, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to help thirty-eight local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The donation assisted venues that were facing possible closure due to challenges stemming from floods, blazes and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and sound issues.

Some locations obtained funding support in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and fans.

"The concept that funds from performances in major spaces helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has stated.

Pulp on stage
The group are among the artists who donated their award funds to good causes

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

Back when the band received the award in the year 1996 for their album Different Class, vocalist Jarvis Cocker stated that the band would give their cash to the non-profit War Child.

During 2002, artist she split her prize across several good causes, including the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with outlets.

Previously, the band gave their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their act, in addition to other independent music bodies.

And 1994 winners the group gave their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was diagnosed the condition.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," stated artist the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our success impacted somebody else's life."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had protected two small stages in that region, by placing them under community ownership.

One venue in the city and The Croft in Bristol were bought under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by a national body and supporters who purchase "shares" in the properties.

Julie Silva
Julie Silva

A seasoned journalist and tech enthusiast with over a decade of experience in digital media and content creation.