The artist gives twenty-five thousand pounds cash award to independent live spaces

The artist has given the entirety of his £25k award winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to protect the UK's small live music spots.

The star was presented with the award on October 16 as his third album his work was chosen as the best record of the previous year.

He has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the essential function local spots had in his early career.

"I wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the shows I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are in difficulty."

Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these spaces have shut down – roughly one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which supports smaller concert halls.

Fender also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his live tour to help numerous grassroots venues across the UK.

The money assisted venues that were confronting potential shutdown due to challenges arising from floods, fires and personal losses, as well as permit problems, court cases and sound issues.

Other venues were granted funding support in improving infrastructure and gear that helped performers and audiences.

"The idea that revenue from performances in major spaces helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just logical," the star has said.

The musician is among several artists to give his honor winnings to worthy causes.

Back when they won the award in 1996 for their album their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the group would donate their winnings to the charity War Child.

In 2002, musician the artist divided her prize between a few good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I contributed a grand to my local community centre, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked better apparatus," she told outlets.

Previously, Ezra Collective contributed their prize money to the youth organization that nurtured their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

Also 1994 winners the group contributed their award to a MS organization after a close contact was identified with the disease.

"The victory was ample," stated vocalist the singer. "The prize was the extra but we didn't need the extra, because we had the cake. So our success touched another person's life."

Recently, the trust announced it had protected several local spots in that region, by placing them under public stewardship.

The first in that area and the other in Bristol were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is backed by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the venues.