🔗 Share this article

The artist has handed over the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound award cash to the MVT, which operates to protect the UK's independent concert spaces.

He was presented with the cheque on mid-October as his latest record his work was chosen as the best record of the last 12 months.

Fender has opted to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his initial steps.

"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," said Sam Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these locations have ceased operations – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, major artists such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by applying a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports local stages.

He also joined in, generating over £100k on his live tour to help thirty-eight local spots across the UK.

The donation assisted locations that were dealing with possible closure due to issues caused by floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and noise complaints.

Additional spaces received monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted performers and audiences.

"The notion that revenue from concerts in major spaces helps the smaller venues, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just logical," the star has said.

He is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to good deeds.

When the band received the trophy in the mid-90s for their release their work, frontman Jarvis Cocker stated that the band would donate their winnings to the non-profit War Child.

In 2002, musician she shared her prize across multiple charities, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," the artist shared with outlets.

In recent years, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the youth organization that supported their act, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

Additionally 1994 winners M People donated their award to a charity for MS after a friend was found to have the condition.

"The victory was sufficient," said singer Small. "The money was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success impacted another person's life."

In the past week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had saved several local spots in that region, by bringing them into local control.

The Joiners in that area and the other in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition initiative, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.