The event has been held annually since 2012, except in 2020 when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2023, which was cancelled due to other complications beyond the organizers' control. It was announced that the festival would be cancelled yet again for 2024 on April 3, 2024.
Made in America Festival was founded in 2012 by American rapper, record producer, and business mogul Jay-Z, as a way to bring together music and culture. The inaugural event was held on September 1–2, 2012 on Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. It grossed $5 million in ticket sales and attracted about 80,000 people.[1] Philadelphia city officials reported that the festival generated around $10 million in economic impact for the city.[2]
In 2012, Pearl Jam were joined onstage by Jay-Z to perform the song "99 Problems".[3][4] For their appearance at the festival, the band earned $2 million.[5]
As of 2012, the festival features three stages of live music: Rocky Stage, Liberty Stage, and Freedom Tent (which primarily features electronic music).[6] The festival also features an array of vendors, food trucks, carnival games, refillable water stations, and portable toilets.
In Budweiser's 'Makers of Tomorrow' ad, which promoted the theme of the festival, Jay-Z narrated, "Through all the lines and things that are put in place to divide each other, all like-minded people gather together. We're more curious than ever. We create music to express ourselves. And when the world relates, ya know, that's beautiful things. We're all trading off each other's culture. So no matter what lines you put—country, indie rock, rap—we're all somehow gonna find a way to come together cause the lines and the titles can never keep us apart. This is what we've been. To put that on display for the world is, is just being honest. That's it, that's what it's all about. We are finally living out our creed."[7]
The festival was the subject of the 2013 documentary Made in America, directed by Ron Howard and produced by Brian Grazer and Jay-Z.[8] In a statement to the press, Howard called the documentary "a reflection of the fabric of what it means to be 'Made in America'—what the festival represents, why Jay is doing it and how he relates to each artist."[9]
On April 16, 2014, Jay-Z and Eric Garcetti (the mayor of Los Angeles) held a press conference at Los Angeles City Hall and announced that the Made in America Festival would take place not only in Philadelphia, but in Los Angeles as well during the 2014 Labor Day weekend. The location of the Los Angeles festival would be Grand Park. "On Labor Day weekend we are going to celebrate our golden state of mind right here in LA with a sellout crowd right on the steps of city hall and into Grand Park," Garcetti said. "The 'Made in America Festival' will attract 50,000 fans Saturday and Sunday. Fans who will inject millions of dollars into the LA economy."[10][11]
On May 19, 2015, it was announced the festival would return to its original format of being solely held in Philadelphia after disappointing ticket sales from last year's LA edition of the festival. In 2015 Budweiser also replaced its Made In America tour with its new Monument Series. The Monument Series which leads up to the main festival took place at both the Statue of Liberty in New York and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California.
The festival was not held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with tickets carrying over to the next edition.[12] The festival returned in 2021,[12][13] only to be cancelled again in 2023 and 2024 for unspecified reasons.[14]
In April 2014, it was announced that the 2014 Made in America festival would take place in both Philadelphia and Los Angeles. A press conference given by Jay-Z and the mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, explained how the added location was designed to involve both the west and east coasts of the United States in the multi-genre festival.[10] The 2014 festival reportedly delivered "twice the amount of music" as the previous years of the festival, and also benefitted the United Way of Greater Los Angeles, United Way of Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, and United Way of Lancaster County.[17]
Made in America 2019 was held on August 31 and September 1 at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. The 2019 festival was headlined by Travis Scott and Cardi B.[24]
Made in America 2021 was held on September 4–5 at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. The 2021 festival was headlined by Justin Bieber and Lil Baby.[13]
Made in America 2022 was held September 3–4 at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. The 2022 festival was headlined by Bad Bunny and Tyler, The Creator.[25]
Made in America 2022 was the first major event on the Parkway since the shooting at the Fourth of July fireworks that injured two police officers.[26][27]
Made in America 2023 was scheduled to be held from September 2–3 at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, and be headlined by Lizzo and SZA.[14]
On August 8, 2023, the festival was cancelled due to "severe circumstances outside of production control". No official reasons have been given for the cancellation,[14][28] although the announcement came shortly after a lawsuit alleging sexual misconduct and a hostile work environment was filed against Lizzo.[28]
