Jay-Z's Made in America music festival cancelled for second year running

Made In America festival, usually held each September in Philadelphia, was first launched in 2012.

Wednesday 3 April 2024 22:15, UK

FILE - Jay-Z arrives at a special screening of "The Harder They Fall" on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, at the Shrine in Los Angeles. Jay-Z...s annual Made in America festival in Philadelphia has been canceled for 2023. The festival cited ...severe circumstances outside of production control... for the abrupt cancellation, which came two months after the lineup was released. No additional details were shared. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)
Image: Made In America festival was founded by Jay-Z. pic: AP
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Jay-Z's music festival has been cancelled for the second year in a row - with organisers not explicitly giving the reasons why.

Made In America festival, which usually takes place in Philadelphia in September, announced in a vague statement on social media that the event would not be held in 2024.

"Since its inception, this groundbreaking festival has celebrated music and community - from creating a space for fans to connect, to uplifting local small businesses & shining a light on important causes," organisers said in a statement.

"It has strived for accessibility, eliminating barriers through affordable tickets and location.

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"As purveyors of change, the Made In America executive production team is re-imagining 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," organisers added, without providing a timeline for the festival's return.

Repeat cancellation

When asked by the Associated Press (AP) for a specific reason behind the cancellation, a representative for Made In America referred questions back to the statement.

A line-up had not yet been announced for the festival.

It is the second consecutive year that the event has been cancelled.

FILE ... In this Sept. 1, 2012, file photo, people line up to enter the "Made in America" music festival, with the Philadelphia Museum of Art visible in the distance on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
Image: The event was first held in 2012. File pic: AP

In August 2023, a month before the event was scheduled to take place at Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin Parkway, organisers announced the festival would not happen "due to severe circumstances outside of production control".

Singers Lizzo and SZA had been due to headline the event.

When the festival was abruptly cancelled last year, the then Philadelphia mayor Jim Kenney expressed disappointment.

However, he said the city would "look forward to bringing Made In America back and bigger than ever to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway next year".

A spokesperson for Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker did not immediately respond to questions about this year's cancellation when asked for comment by AP.

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The festival was founded by Jay-Z in 2012 and attracted nearly 80,000 people in its first year.

The debut event featured a cameo from the multi-award-winning rapper, who performed his hit song 99 Problems on stage with the rock band, Pearl Jam.

The festival has since featured a host of top headliners, including record-breaking Grammy winner Beyonce, who is also the wife of Jay-Z, rapper Kanye West, and British rock band, Coldplay.

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