Premier Ewart Brown today defended the $2.2 million spent on Bermuda Music Festival saying the event was about branding the Island’s name.

Dr. Brown revealed on Friday, in response to parliamentary questions, that the cost for the acts at this year’s event would be $2.2 million — including $1 million in pay and expenses for one of the performers, most likely Beyoncé.

Today he defended the expense, saying the level of performers and linking the Island’s name to something like the festival was worth the millions.

“I do not know that we will make a profit,” he said. “It’s not done for us to make a profit. I do believe though it’s [this year’s festival] the best opportunity to break even in the history of the festival.

“This festival like most music festivals in the world are not done to make a profit but they have an effect far beyond the show itself.

“This is branding. It’s already known around the world that Bermuda’s festival is sold out and the entertainers we were fortunate to get this year we cannot get for peanuts.”

He added that anyone focused only on how the money was being spent was “being narrow in their perspective”.