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Saturday, October 10, 2026
WinLife Blog UK

The artist contributes his £25k prize award winnings to small concert halls

Sam Fender holding his trophy in the North East
Sam Fender was awarded the honor last month in his hometown

The artist has donated the complete sum of his £25,000 honor winnings to the MVT, which functions to preserve the Britain's small music venues.

Fender was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his latest record the album was declared the top album of the previous year.

Fender has chosen to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the essential function grassroots venues had in his initial steps.

"I would not have achieved my current career if it wasn't for all the performances I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," said Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."

From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.

In the last year, major artists including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits local stages.

He also took part, raising more than £100,000 on his live tour to support numerous grassroots venues across Britain.

These funds helped locations that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges caused by flooding, blazes and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces received financial assistance in improving amenities and sound and lighting systems that helped artists and concertgoers.

"The notion that revenue from shows in big venues helps the smaller venues, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.

Pulp members performing
Pulp are among the artists who contributed their honor funds to good causes

The musician is far from the only musician to donate his honor winnings to charitable organizations.

When the band received the trophy in 1996 for their record the album, vocalist Cocker stated that the group would donate their prize money to the non-profit War Child.

That year, rapper and singer the artist shared her award among a few charities, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," Ms Dynamite shared with a publication.

Previously, they contributed their prize money to the local youth club that nurtured their act, in addition to other local music groups.

And winners that year M People contributed their prize to a charity for MS after a close contact was diagnosed the disease.

"The victory was quite enough," said artist the singer. "The money was the cherry on top but we could do without the cherry, because we had the cake. So our success touched another person's life."

In the past week, the trust shared it had saved several local spots in the South East, by transferring them to community ownership.

One venue in Southampton and The Croft in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues program, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who acquire "shares" in the buildings.

The writer

Randall Wolf

A wellness coach and lifestyle writer based in London, passionate about helping others achieve personal growth and balance.

WinLife Blog UK

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