Jay-Z’s Made In America music festival cancelled for 2nd consecutive year… and fans have no idea why | The Express Tribune

Jay-Z’s Made in America festival, a Philadelphia staple since its founding in 2012, has announced its cancellation for a second consecutive year. 

In a social media statement, organisers offered a glimpse into the future while remaining vague about the immediate reason for the hiatus.

“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.

“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. 

They gave no timeline, leaving fans and the city of Philadelphia in suspense and open to speculation.

Attempts by reporters to elicit a specific reason for the cancellation were met with a referral back to the general statement.  

This follows a similar cancellation in 2023, just a month before the event, which was attributed to “severe circumstances outside of production control.”

Disappointed by last year’s cancellation Philadelphia’s then-Mayor Jim Kenney had expressed hope for a bigger and better festival in 2024.  As of yet, there’s been no comment from the current mayor’s office regarding the latest cancellation.

Founded by Jay-Z in 2012, Made in America drew nearly 80,000 attendees in its debut year.  It has become a major music event, featuring headliners like Beyonce (Jay-Z’s wife), Kanye West, and Coldplay.