The small music venue circuit is the breeding ground of British Music. It’s where musicians learn their craft, what works, what doesn’t, it’s where they build the fan bases that take them to the labels that export them across the world. It’s not an exaggeration to say that the small venue circuit is the foundation stone of UK Live Music, a multi-million pound industry employing hundreds of thousands of people across the world, all starting from that first faltering step onto a tiny stage. We have to act together to ensure UK musicians and music fans continue to have access to this essential part of UK music heritage. The Music Venue Trust has an achievable plan which we hope everybody; audiences, musicians and industry, will get behind and support.