Made In America 2023 w/ Lizzo, SZA & More Canceled Due To ‘Severe Circumstances’

The anticipated Made in America festival, originally scheduled for September 2nd and 3rd in Philadelphia, has unfortunately been canceled. The festival organizers conveyed this unfortunate news through an official statement on their website on Tuesday.

The statement read, “Due to unforeseen and severe circumstances beyond our control, the 2023 Made In America festival will regrettably not be proceeding as planned. Making this decision was complex and was not arrived at without extensive consideration.”

The specific reasons behind the festival’s cancellation were not explicitly stated. USA TODAY has made attempts to contact Roc Nation’s representatives for further insight.

All individuals who had purchased tickets will receive full refunds for their transactions.

The statement concluded with the festival’s commitment to providing remarkable experiences for music enthusiasts and live concert attendees. “Made in America has consistently delivered extraordinary moments for music lovers and event attendees. Our pledge to deliver a premium festival experience remains unchanged,” it said. The organizers expressed eagerness to return to Benjamin Franklin Parkway and the vibrant city of Philadelphia for the 2024 edition of the festival.

Philadelphia’s Mayor Jim Kenney shared his disappointment regarding this unexpected turn of events. In a statement to The Associated Press, Kenney said, “Since 2012, Made in America has evolved into a cherished Philadelphia tradition during the Labor Day Weekend, celebrating music and advocating for important social causes.”

Kenney went on to express gratitude to the event’s partners and attendees for their contributions to the festival’s remarkable success over the years, particularly acknowledging the collaboration with Roc Nation. He concluded with optimism about the future, stating, “We are excited about bringing back Made in America in a grander fashion to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway next year.”

Notable artists such as Lizzo, SZA, Ice Spice, Latto, Coi Leray, Miguel, and Cam’ron were slated to perform at the festival.

This annual music festival, initiated by rapper Jay-Z, traditionally takes place on Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway during the Labor Day weekend. Curated by Jay-Z himself, previous headliners included Bad Bunny and Tyler, the Creator, and the event typically features more than a dozen performers, often highlighting local talent.

The cancellation is particularly disappointing as singers Lizzo and SZA were set to be the headlining acts for this year’s festival, joined by a lineup that included Ice Spice, Latto, Coi Leray, Miguel, and Cam’ron.

Jay-Z, who has amassed a career spanning nearly three decades, with 24 Grammy Awards and 14 No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 chart, was recently recognized as the world’s wealthiest rapper in Forbes’ real-time billionaires list for the summer of 2023. His estimated net worth, as of June 2023, stood at $2.5 billion.

Jay-Z, also known by his birth name Shawn Carter, became the first billionaire in the hip-hop industry in 2019. His diverse wealth comes from his music endeavors, his entertainment company Roc Nation, his collection of Jean-Michel Basquiat artworks, his venture capital enterprise Marcy Venture Partners, and his partnerships with Armand de Brignac champagne and D’Usse cognac.