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Sam Fender contributes his £25k prize award winnings to independent music venues

Sam Fender receiving the award in the North East
Sam Fender received the honor in October in his hometown

The star has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound award cash to the trust for venues, which works to protect the United Kingdom's small concert spaces.

Fender was given the award on mid-October as his third album his work was named the top album of the last 12 months.

Fender has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function local spots fulfilled in his early career.

"I couldn't be pursuing 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 the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are facing challenges."

From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these locations have permanently closed – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.

In the last year, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.

He also took part, collecting more than £100,000 on his recent tour to help thirty-eight grassroots venues across the UK.

The donation assisted spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges caused by flooding, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and noise complaints.

Other venues were granted monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and gear that helped performers and audiences.

"The concept that money from shows in large arenas backs the local stages, where it begins for musicians like me, is just common sense," Fender has stated.

Pulp in concert
Pulp are one of the many acts who donated their award winnings to charity

The musician is among several artists to give his honor winnings to good deeds.

Back when they received the trophy in the year 1996 for their record the album, frontman the singer declared that the band would donate their winnings to the charity War Child.

In 2002, artist Ms Dynamite split her bounty across multiple good causes, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I gave a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they needed new equipment," Ms Dynamite told the media.

Previously, the band gave their winnings to the community center that supported their group, as well as other independent music bodies.

Additionally 1994 winners M People gave their prize to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.

"Receiving the award was ample," said artist the singer. "The prize was the extra but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our victory affected the lives of others."

Recently, the MVT revealed it had rescued a couple of local spots in that region, by bringing them into community ownership.

The Joiners in Southampton and the other in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership initiative, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "stakes" in the buildings.

By

Justin Powell

Environmental engineer specializing in sustainable water systems and climate adaptation strategies.

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