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The artist has given the entirety of his £25,000 honor cash to the MVT, which functions to save the UK's small concert spaces.

Fender was given the award on 16 October as his latest record People Watching was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.

He has opted to give the cash to the MVT, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his initial steps.

"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the performances I performed around the North East, and further afield, when I was starting out," remarked Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these locations have shut down – about one-sixth of the entire UK sector.

Over the past year, major artists like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help smaller concert halls.

Sam Fender also participated, raising over £100k on his recent tour to assist 38 grassroots venues across Britain.

The donation supported venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from flooding, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.

Some locations were granted financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted performers and fans.

"The notion that money from performances in major spaces supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for performers like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has stated.

He is among several artists to give his honor funds to good deeds.

When they received the trophy in the year 1996 for their record the album, frontman Cocker stated that the band would contribute their cash to the non-profit War Child.

That year, artist the artist shared her prize among a few charities, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required updated gear," she told outlets.

In recent years, Ezra Collective donated their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their band, as well as other independent music bodies.

Additionally the 1994 recipients M People contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was found to have the disease.

"Winning was sufficient," stated artist Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning affected the lives of others."

Recently, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued several local spots in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.

One venue in Southampton and the other in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership initiative, which is funded by the arts council and music fans who acquire "shares" in the properties.