'This Is Evil': Fans Reeling After Jay-Z's Made in America Festival Is Canceled Without Explanation The festival was set to begin on September 2.

By Emily Rella

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Planned festival-goers and fans of Jay-Z are reeling after the rapper's production company Roc Nation canceled its annual Made in America festival in Philadelphia — with little to no explanation just weeks from when it was set to begin.

Organizers made the announcement via social media on Monday in a cryptic message that blamed the cancelation on "severe circumstances outside of production control," stating that the 2023 festival will not take place as planned on September 2nd and 3rd.

"This decision has been difficult and has not been made lightly nor without deliberation," the announcement reads. "Made in America has a legacy of delivering exceptional experiences for music fans and concertgoers, and it is out commitment to always deliver a top-tier festival experience."

This would have marked the 10th year of the festival.

The 2023 lineup was set to be headlined by SZA and Lizzo, the latter of which has been under fire in recent weeks after a lawsuit was filed by three former dancers alleging workplace harassment.

Hundreds took to the festival's Instagram account to lament about the sudden cancelation and the minimal information given about the decision.

"You really posted this before sending ticket holders an email???? Fire the whole marketing team," one person wrote.

"WOW this is evil - refund my flights too," another angrily wrote.

Festival organizers noted on social media that all ticket holders would be refunded fully.

Bad Bunny performs at the 2022 Made in America festival (Getty Images)

The festival has been a money-maker for the city of Philadelphia. In 2018, Jay-Z estimated that six years of the festival had made a "$102.8 million economic impact" on the historic metropolis, as well as paying "$3.4 million in rent to the city."

"We depend a lot on that," a cook at Corner Deli in Philadelphia named Jose Rios told local outlet CBS Philadelphia. "Made in America is good. You bring a lot of crowds -- a lot of beer [and] a lot of sandwiches."

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenny took to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, to express his disappointment over the swift cancelation of the festival.

Last year's festival was headlined by Bad Bunny and Tyler, The Creator. It's estimated that roughly 85,000 people attended the two-day event.

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

JPMorgan Shuts Down Internal Message Board Comments After Employees React to Return-to-Office Mandate

Employees were given the option to leave comments about the RTO mandate with their first and last names on display — and they did not hold back.

Innovation

4 Ways Market Leaders Use Innovation to Foster Business Growth

Forward-thinkers constantly strive to diversify and streamline their products and services, turning novelties into commodities desired by many.

Leadership

From Elite Athletes to Tech Titans — Discover the Surprising $100-Million Habit That Leads to Extraordinary Success

Success comes from mastering focus, eliminating distractions and prioritizing what truly matters.

Business News

'I Want the Best People on Our Teams': Meta Is Laying Off More Than 3,000, CEO Mark Zuckerberg Calls for 'Extensive Performance-Based Cuts' — Read the Memo

In an internal memo shared on Tuesday, Zuckerberg said it's "going to be an intense year" at the company.

Business News

The FTC Is Readying a Case Against the Largest U.S. Apartment Landlord. Here's Why.

The issue is with fees that allegedly weren't disclosed in advertisements for rental units.

Franchise

Turn Your Passion for Pets into a Business with a Wag N' Wash Franchise

Wag N' Wash is a store where pets can be cherished every day by feeding, washing, and spoiling them just how they like it.