Thousands were left disappointed on Tuesday as organizers of Philadelphia’s Made in America music festival announced that this year’s event will no longer take place, citing ‘severe circumstances outside of production control.’
The star-studded festival, curated by Jay-Z and Roc Nation, has been a regular fixture in the Philadelphia calendar since it debuted in 2012 —apart from when it was canceled in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The festival is a celebration of music and culture and over the years, has seen performances from the likes of Beyonce, Foo Fighters, Bad Bunny, The Weeknd, Kanye West, Coldplay and Rihanna.
It also has a positive impact on the city through Cause Village, the festival’s iconic philanthropic footprint that leads to an average of 15K social actions taken each year. MIA further reports a more than $150 million economic impact to the city since it began back in 2012.
The star-studded festival was due to take place over Labor Day weekend, Sept. 2-3, on Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway with the likes of SZA, Lizzo, Tems, Metro Boomin’ and Ice Spice set to grace the stage.
Organizers said that ticket holders will be refunded at the original point of purchase and that the festival will be returning to Benjamin Franklin Parkway in 2024.
In a statement, organizers said: “This decision has been difficult and has not been made lightly nor without immense deliberation.
“Made in America has a legacy of delivering exceptional experiences for music fans and concert goers, and it is our commitment to always deliver a top-tier festival experience.”
No specific reason has been cited for the event’s cancellation apart from ‘severe circumstances.’ However, it follows allegations against co-headliner Lizzo, who is the center of a lawsuit by her former tour dancers for sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment. Lizzo denies these accusations.
Mayor Jim Kenney shared his disappointment at the event being canceled, tweeting: “I’m disappointed to hear that the 2023 @MIAFestival will not be taking place.
“We’re grateful to the partners and festival goers who have contributed to this event’s incredible success over the years, and we look forward to bringing MIA back to the Parkway next year.”
