For a second year in a row, the Philadelphia-based Made In America music festival has been canceled. Founded and curated by Jay-Z, the Labor Day fest pulled in stars of many genres including Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar, Imagine Dragons, Justin Bieber, and City and Colour.
Run by Jay-Z’s entertainment company Roc Nation, the festival was the subject of an eponymous documentary in 2013 directed by Ron Howard. In 2021, upon returning from a pandemic pause, Roc Nation announced intentions to expand the festival to other cities. However, in 2023, with Lizzo and SZA set to headline, Made In America was abruptly canceled less than a month ahead of the scheduled date. Statements made by festival organizers noted “severe circumstances outside of production control” and promised a return the following year, but no further explanations were given (though some suspected allegations of sexual harassment against Lizzo could have been a factor).
This year, the festival put out the cancellation announcement earlier, on April 3, and did not specify when the festival would return. “As purveyors of change, the Made In America executive production team is reimagining a live music experience that affirms our love and dedication to music and the work we do. We promise an exciting return to the festival,” festival organizers said in a statement on social media.
The Specs
- At least 50,000-70,000 attend each year, and in 2022, around 85,000 people attended.
- There is no stated return to the festival as yet.
- Going to Philadelphia anyway? Check out Fifty Grande’s list of best things to do in the city.