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Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his £25,000 honor cash to the trust for venues, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.

He was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his new release the album was chosen as the best record of the previous year.

Fender has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages had in his early career.

"I would not have achieved this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I did around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," said Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

Over the past year, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their admission fees, which benefits smaller concert halls.

Fender also participated, generating over £100k on his recent tour to help 38 local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.

These funds supported locations that were facing possible closure due to challenges caused by flooding, fires and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, court cases and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces obtained financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and gear that directly benefitted musicians and audiences.

"The notion that funds from shows in big venues supports the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has commented.

The musician is far from the only musician to contribute his honor funds to worthy causes.

In Pulp received the award in 1996 for their release Different Class, vocalist Cocker declared that the group would contribute their cash to the organization the charity.

During 2002, rapper and singer the artist split her bounty among a few organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," she explained to a publication.

Two years ago, they contributed their prize money to the community center that supported their band, as well as other grassroots music organisations.

Additionally winners that year they contributed their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was diagnosed the disease.

"The victory was sufficient," remarked vocalist Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched the lives of others."

In the past week, the MVT shared it had rescued two local spots in south-east England, by placing them under local control.

One venue in Southampton and the other in Bristol were bought under the public acquisition program, which is supported by a national body and supporters who purchase "stakes" in the venues.