Everything But The Girl’s Ben Watt started independent imprint Buzzin’ Fly in 2003, and now ten years later it is due to close its doors, at least partially.

The label will continue to sell back catalogue but will cease to release any new music, and while sister label Strange Feeling will continue to release Tracey Thorne’s output, they will otherwise be taking a similar path. Watt himself is upbeat about the changes;

“I loved every minute, but all good things come to an end. It simply feels like the right moment. Buzzin’ Fly was born out of my commitment to the culture of DJing and helping young artists, but these days I am edging away from it towards other challenges – a new book I’m writing, research for another one, and a long-planned solo music project.”

“At heart I have always been a creative person – whether as a writer or musician – as opposed to a business person, and after ten years in clubs and in the office I need time again to focus fully on my own stuff rather than other people’s.”

“It feels appropriate to stop now in our tenth year and leave the label with, I hope, a strong reputation for what it has managed to achieve, rather than to continue with a muted presence. Someone asked why I couldn’t hand over the reins to someone else, but I don’t think it would ever have been the same. In the meantime, I hope my ongoing show for BBC 6Music’s 6Mix can still be a distilled showcase for some of the great music I come across. You never know, there might even be another imprint one day.”

The label will herald its exit with a series of bumper compilations, beginning with Buzzin’ Fly Anthology Vol.1 2003-2004 which is set to be released on April 22. [via Clash Magazine]