🔗 Share this article

The star has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 honor winnings to the MVT, which works to save the UK's small live music spots.

The star was presented with the award on 16 October as his third album his work was named the top album of the past year.

He has opted to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the essential function local spots fulfilled in his early career.

"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," said the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about 16% of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, major artists like Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

He also took part, collecting more than £100,000 on his live tour to assist numerous grassroots venues across the UK.

The money helped locations that were facing possible closure due to difficulties caused by flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and noise complaints.

Some locations received monetary aid in improving amenities and gear that directly benefitted musicians and concertgoers.

"The idea that revenue from shows in large arenas supports the smaller venues, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has stated.

He is among several artists to donate his award prize money to worthy causes.

Back when the band received the trophy in the mid-90s for their album the album, frontman the singer declared that the band would contribute their winnings to the charity War Child.

That year, rapper and singer the artist divided her award across multiple charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they needed updated gear," the artist explained to a publication.

Two years ago, the band contributed their funds to the community center that nurtured their act, alongside other local music groups.

Also the 1994 recipients the group donated their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was identified with the illness.

"The victory was ample," stated artist Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the cake. So our winning impacted another person's life."

Recently, the trust shared it had saved several grassroots venues in that region, by bringing them into local control.

The Joiners in the city and the other in that location were bought under the community ownership scheme, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.