"There are too many promoters and there are too many shows too close together. Everyone wants to promote reggae shows,'' said Mr. Shawn Perott of TOC Productions.

The market was finished as a result of "overkill'', he said.

He was now turning his attention to "big entertainers -- mega stars'', he announced.

Mr. Perott said the fact that the year's first three major reggae concerts did not attract the crowds expected had "set the pace'' for the summer.

"The word's out,'' he said. "Buju Banton is the number one DJ in the world.

If he can't bring in the numbers, no one can.'' A reggae show put on prior to the Banton show was also less than successful and saw people waiting three hours for showtime, Mr. Perott said.

The Banton concert, organised by TOC last month, drew only 992 people.

And attendance at the Great Sound Productions Reggae Superfest at Dockyard over the weekend did not attract the "bumper crowd'' expected either.

Organisers blamed the poor turn-out on the last minute cancellation of main attraction Gregory Isaacs', who was reportedly ill.

Mr. Perott, whose company TOC developed a reputation last year for bringing in the biggest names in reggae, added that contrary to a report in Monday's Royal Gazette , he had "nothing to do with'' the flop of a hastily arranged Isaacs' concert last summer at St. David's Cricket Field.

The concert was put on by United Promoters, an ad-hoc consortium of concert organisers. According to a Mid-Ocean News report at the time, Dub City Promotions, Star Time Ventures and TOC were members of United Promotions.

But Mr. Perott categorically denied having anything at all to do with the entertainment company.