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Sam Fender gives twenty-five thousand pounds cash award to grassroots live spaces

The singer receiving his trophy in Newcastle
The musician was awarded the honor recently in Newcastle

The artist has donated the full amount of his £25k honor cash to the trust for venues, which operates to save the Britain's independent music venues.

He was presented with the award on 16 October as his new release People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.

Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role local spots fulfilled in his early career.

"As an artist would not have achieved this success if it weren't for all the shows I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," said Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."

Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.

Recently, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which supports independent venues.

Fender also joined in, collecting more than £100,000 on his live tour to support 38 small stages across the UK.

The money helped venues that were facing imminent closure due to difficulties stemming from water damage, fires and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and sound issues.

Some locations obtained monetary aid in improving amenities and gear that directly benefitted musicians and fans.

"The idea that revenue from concerts in large arenas supports the local stages, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.

The band Pulp performing
Pulp are one of the many acts who donated their award winnings to good causes

Fender is among several artists to contribute his honor prize money to charitable organizations.

When Pulp received the trophy in 1996 for their record the album, vocalist Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would donate their prize money to the charity War Child.

In 2002, rapper and singer the artist shared her bounty among a few charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also contributed a grand to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite shared with the media.

Previously, they donated their winnings to the local youth club that developed their act, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.

And 1994 winners M People gave their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was found to have the condition.

"Winning was ample," stated singer Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory impacted another person's life."

In the past week, the MVT announced it had protected several grassroots venues in that region, by transferring them to local control.

The first in Southampton and the other in that location were acquired under the public acquisition program, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the venues.

Written by

Sara Vaughn

A certified slot technician with over 15 years of experience in casino gaming equipment maintenance and regulatory compliance.

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