What happened to Jay-Z’s ‘Made in America’ festival?

Photo from miafest/Instagram

The supposed annual Made in America festival, a flagship event founded by hip-hop icon Jay-Z, has been canceled for the second consecutive year, organizers announced Wednesday on social media.

Last year, the festival, known for drawing thousands of music fans to Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway over Labor Day weekend, cited unspecified “severe circumstances outside of production control” as the reason for its cancellation and originally slated to return this year.

However, in a recent Instagram post, organizers stated, “Made In America will not take place in 2024.”

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A post shared by Made In America Festival (@miafest)

“Since its inception, this groundbreaking festival has celebrated music & community – from creating a space for fans to connect, to uplifting local small businesses & shining a light on important causes,” the letter reads. “It has strived for accessibility, eliminating barriers through affordable tickets and location.”

While no specific reason was provided for the decision, organizers reiterated their commitment to delivering an exceptional music experience in the future.

“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,” continues the statement.

Different from last year when they already announced Lizzo and SZA as the headliners, a lineup had not yet been revealed this year. Failing to give a specific reason for the cancellation, the statement instead promises “an exciting return.”

However, no timeline was offered for when the event might resume.

The music festival has been held every year since it was launched in 2012, with the exception of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.