Headline acts Beyoncé and Alicia Keys could cause the cost of the Bermuda Music Festival (BMF) to skyrocket to the tune of millions of dollars.

Government yesterday refused to disclose the price tag of the October event, however US booking agents contacted by this newspaper said Beyoncé's rates typically range from $500,000 to $1.5 million ¿ plus expenses.

They placed Ms Keys' fees at approximately $500,000 plus expenses, depending on the concert type and venue.

BMF costs have traditionally not been made public prior to the event. Premier and Tourism Minister Ewart Brown has said he will detail that information after its October 4 completion.

The charge to taxpayers in 2006, when ticket sales netted $800,292, was nearly $1,497,129. However, the loss could have been significantly higher as, explained by Dr. Brown, the Tourism Helps Everyone Foundation created by his wife Wanda, chipped in $110,000, reducing costs.

Figures for BMF 2007 have not been announced. However, in February, the Department of Tourism acknowledged partial costs of $250,000, the fee paid to event producers, the US-based The Festival Network. That group promised BMF 2008 would be even bigger, boosted by a state-of-the art sound system controlled by expert technicians, world-class staging and lighting to meet the exacting specifications of the world's top performers and a spectacular video projection system.

And then came Dr. Brown's announcement of the artist line-up for the 13th annual Festival this week. In addition to superstars Beyoncé and Ms Keys ¿ both multiple Grammy Award winners ¿ entertainers include Bermudian reggae sensation Collie Buddz, popular UK reggae band UB40, R&B legends The Whispers and singers Lyfe Jennings, Solange Knowles and Aaron Neville.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the international talent line-up this year is outstanding, there's no other way to describe it," said the Premier at a press conference. "In fact, I predict that this event will be so big, so awesome and so popular across so many sectors of our community, employers will find it difficult to get productivity out of their employees for these four days in October. This one will be a blockbuster."

The event is believed to be the largest in the Tourism budget.

In 2006 Opposition Tourism spokesperson David Dodwell questioned whether the taxpayer was getting value for money after Dr. Brown revealed an approximately 50/50 split between visitors and residents attending.

Yesterday, Opposition Leader and Shadow Tourism Minister Kim Swan reiterated those concerns, saying it was time Bermuda admitted most tourists come on cruise ships or for international business purposes.

"We have to do an analysis to see whether or not the festival is still a Tourism event or more a 'feel good' local event," he said. "The Tourism budget has to come under greater scrutiny.

"We locals enjoy ¿ and love ¿ the Music Festival but is it an event to bring tourists or a must have event on the local calendar? If the latter is the case, we need to own up to that particularly when it impacts into our Tourism budget. Yes, these things make us feel good, but are the events translating into making tourism more successful? There's no bottomless pit. The whole question now is affordability."

Especially in light of an American Airlines announcement that it was looking at the viability of routes in face of rising fuel costs, Bermuda needs to be more cautious in its spending, he added.

"I think we need far more prudent marking in the short term to fill the beds that aren't filled in a tourism capacity. Most hotels will confirm 85 per cent (occupancy rates) in May, June, July and August. We need to ensure that continues otherwise our hotels will feel the effects of a shortened peak season. Particularly with rising fuel costs (affecting) our greatest trading partner, the US."

As one of the bigger tourist draws organised during the shoulder season, it remains important that the Festival follows through with its mandate, Mr. Swan stated.

"Judging by past festivals it has been a great event but we need to spread the love throughout the widened off-season. For eight months, from September until the end of April, (percentage of rooms occupied range from) the high 50s to the low 60s. It would make more sense to put resources in place to ensure we are doing all we can to widen the four-month season when hotels enjoy greater occupancy. That needs to be our focus. We have to be realistic and address that.

"The festival is a very popular local event which I personally enjoy," he continued. "But I do think it's important for us to know our investment from a tourism point of view. I think it's incumbent upon the Government to do that. It's very much a 'feel good' event but we need to make sure we're getting 'bang for our buck'.

"We need to know comparatively how the cost stacks up against festivals in past years. I think we do need to know how much money we're budgeting for. It's not a blank cheque scenario. It's about transparency. I think it's the right think for us to ask and I think it's the right thing for the Government to disclose beforehand."

The BMF runs October 1 through 4. Opening night performances will be held at the Fairmont Southampton Beach Club, the remainder at the National Sports Centre. Tickets are available at various costs online, at www.bermudamusicfestival.com. Tickets are also available locally at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess, the Fairmont Southampton and Café Latte in St. George's. Tickets are also available by telephone during regular business hours ¿ 888-909-8881.