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Sam Fender contributes his £25k prize cash award to grassroots live spaces

Sam Fender accepting the award in Newcastle
He received the honor last month in Newcastle

The artist has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 award cash to the MVT, which works to save the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.

The star was given the cheque on mid-October as his third album his work was named the best record of the past year.

The musician has chosen to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the vital role small stages played in his beginning days.

"I couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the gigs I played around the area, and beyond, when I was beginning," said Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.

In the last year, major artists including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also took part, generating in excess of £100,000 on his recent tour to help 38 local spots across Britain.

The money assisted venues that were confronting possible closure due to difficulties arising from floods, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.

Some locations obtained monetary aid in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.

"The concept that money from concerts in large arenas supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.

The band Pulp in concert
The group are among the artists who gave their award funds to non-profits

He is far from the only musician to contribute his award prize money to charitable organizations.

In the band won the trophy in the year 1996 for their record the album, frontman Cocker announced that the band would give their cash to the non-profit the charity.

During 2002, artist she split her award between several charities, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.

"And I contributed a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to the media.

In recent years, they donated their funds to the community center that developed their group, alongside other grassroots music organisations.

Also winners that year M People contributed their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was diagnosed the disease.

"The victory was quite enough," said singer Heather Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't require the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched another person's life."

Last week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.

One venue in Southampton and The Croft in that location were purchased under the public acquisition scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the venues.

By

Meredith Cantu

A software engineer and tech enthusiast with over a decade of experience in AI development and digital transformation projects.

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