The Made in America Festival is a two-day music festival held every Labor Day weekend on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was first announced by entertainer Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter at Philadelphia Museum of Art on May 14, 2012.
In 2014, the Los Angeles, California edition was added to the Made in America Festival, hence marking the first multi-day music festival staged simultaneously on opposite ends of the United States.
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.
History The festival was founded in 2012 by rapper 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. Philadelphia city officials reported that the festival generated around $10 million in economic impact for the city.
In 2012, Pearl Jam were joined onstage by Jay-Z to perform the song "99 Problems". For their appearance at the festival, the band earned $2 million.
As of 2012, the festival features three stages of live music: Rocky Stage, Liberty Stage, and Freedom Tent (which primarily features electronic music). 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."
The festival was the subject of the 2013 documentary Made in America, directed by Ron Howard and produced by Brian Grazer and Jay-Z. 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."
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."
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. The festival returned in 2021, only to be cancelled again in 2023 and 2024 for unspecified reasons.
Lineups
2012
Saturday, September 1 Jay-Z Skrillex Miike Snow Calvin Harris Passion Pit Maybach Music Group (featuring Rick Ross, Wale and Meek Mill) Gary Clark Jr. D'Angelo Dirty Projectors Nicky Romero Janelle Monáe Michael Woods Otto Knows Savoy Funkagenda Prince Royce
Sunday, September 2 Pearl Jam Drake Jill Scott Run-DMC Gary Clark Jr. Afrojack Odd Future Alesso Santigold The Hives Rita Ora The Knocks Burns DJ Shadow X Betatraxx Milkman P.A.W.N. LASER / Louis Capet XXVI
2013
Saturday, August 31 Beyoncé Deadmau5 Phoenix Empire of the Sun Imagine Dragons 2 Chainz Public Enemy A$AP Rocky Haim Walk The Moon Wolfgang Gartner Porter Robinson TJR Rudimental Redlight Mord Fustang
Sunday, September 1 Nine Inch Nails Calvin Harris Queens of the Stone Age Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Wiz Khalifa Miguel Kendrick Lamar Emeli Sandé The Gaslight Anthem Fitz and the Tantrums Feed Me Schoolboy Q Solange Jay Rock Nero Robert Delong Ab-Soul GTA AlunaGeorge Jesse Rose Diarrhea Planet
2014 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. 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.
Philadelphia
Saturday, August 30 Kanye West The National J. Cole Chromeo Girl Talk Spoon Grimes R3hab Gareth Emery Steve Aoki Kongos 3lau The Neighbourhood Penguin Prison Destructo Bleachers Young & Sick Vacationer Holy Ghost! Cut Snake The OBGMs
Sunday, August 31 Kings Of Leon Pharrell Williams Big Daddy Kane City And Colour Awolnation Baauer Tommy Trash Tiesto Mayer Hawthorne Danny Brown YG Holy Ghost! DJ Cassidy Cherub MisterWives Will Sparks CRUISR Kaneholler
Los Angeles
Saturday, August 30 Imagine Dragons Kendrick Lamar Afrojack Iggy Azalea Sublime with Rome Metric Capital Cities Gareth Emery Schoolboy Q Borgore DVBBS YG Mute Math Dr. Dog Hit-Boy ZZ Ward Classixx Ab-Soul Isaiah Rashad Jay Rock Cut Snake Grandtheft
Sunday, August 31 John Mayer Kanye West Juanes Steve Aoki Rise Against Weezer Chance The Rapper Cypress Hill R3hab Wolfgang Gartner 12th Planet Rita Ora Nipsey Hussle Terraplane Sun Yellow Claw Will Sparks SZA Scavenger Hunt A Tribe Called Red
2015 The 2015 line-up featured and included Beyoncé, The Weeknd, Bassnectar, Modest Mouse, Axwell and Ingrosso, and J. Cole.
Saturday, September 5 Beyoncé Bassnectar Meek Mill Nicki Minaj (Special Guest) Death Cab For Cutie Nick Jonas Duke Dumont Superheaven Hop Along Botnek Young Rising Sons Jacob Plant Ryan Hemsworth Creepoid Bass Drum of Death Mike Floss Sarah Jaffe Tanlines De La Soul Modest Mouse Vic Mensa G-Eazy DJ Mustard Earl Sweatshirt The Struts Mayaeni Cedric Gervais Waxahatchee Strands of Oaks Ground Up
Sunday, September 6 The Weeknd Axwell and Ingrosso Santigold Cozz J. Cole Big Sean Future Hippo Campus Action Bronson Mick Jenkins Halsey Fabolous Freeway (Special Guest) Bizzy Crook Flatbush Zombies Lolawolf Banks Lili K Marian Hill Claude VonStroke Jidenna Bully Metric Burns Aeroplane Saint Motel Grits & Biscuts Post Malone Remy Banks Omen Disco Fries Twin Peaks Bas GTA A-Trak
2016 The 2016 edition held in Philadelphia was headlined by Rihanna and Coldplay. 2016 also included DJ Khaled, Martin Garrix, FKA Twigs, Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz, Edward Sharpe, Jamie xx, Travis Scott, Grimes, Chance the Rapper, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Madeon, Desiigner, Gary Clark, Jr., A$AP Ferg, Bibi Bourelly, Lil Yachty, Bryson Tiller, Sza, and Levi Carter.
Saturday Rocky StageLiberty StageFreedom StageSkate StageTidal Stage Lil Uzi Vert SZA Bryson Tiller ColleGrove (2 Chainz x Lil Wayne) Rihanna Dorothy Justine Skye A$AP Ferg Eve Jamie XX NVOY Chris Malinchak Sleepy Tom Anna Lunoe Tchami DJ Mustard Adventure Club Symone Denzel Curry Porches Cherry Glazerr Gallant Grits & Biscuits Into It. Over It. C-Kan Colter Wall Miya Folick Manolo Rose Car Seat Headrest Levi Carter Dave East Fat White Family Sunday Rocky StageLiberty StageFreedom StageSkate StageTidal Stage St. Lucia Banks & Steelz Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros DJ Khaled Chance the Rapper Coldplay Playboi Carti Tory Lanez Gary Clark Jr. Travis Scott FKA Twigs Martin Garrix What the Duck SG Lewis Flat White Salva Disciples Madeon From Indian Lakes Day Wave Aaron West and the Roaring Twenties Kevin Devine Basement Touché Amoré Red Letter Day Honduras Sophie Beem Show Me the Body Kevin Garrett Sir the Baptist Bibi Bourelly Lil Yachty Kacy Hill Desiigner
2017 Made in America 2017 was headlined by festival founder Jay-Z, J.Cole and The Chainsmokers.
Rocky Stage Saturday: Rapsody, Marian Hill, Sampha, Migos, Solange, J. Cole Sunday: PnB Rock, Kelela, Pusha T, Little Dragon, The Chainsmokers, Jay-Z
Liberty Stage Saturday: Lizzo, Francis and the Lights, Cardi B, Vic Mensa, Kaskade Sunday: Broods, Tiwa Savage, 21 Savage, Run the Jewels, Marshmello
Skate Stage Saturday: Queen of Jeans, Flor, Mt. Joy, Mannequin Pussy, (Sandy) Alex G, J.I.D., EarthGang, Ugly God Sunday: Busty and the Bass, Public Access T.V., Tommy Genesis, Rob Stone, Japanese Breakfast, Beach Slang, Tigers Jaw, Yung Lean
Tidal Stage Saturday: Ari Lennox, Karen Rodriguez, Nick Grant, Kodie Shane, Smino, THEY., A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Stormzy Sunday: Carter Winter, Downtown Boys, Mozart La Para, A R I Z O N A, Jorja Smith, Maleek Berry, Wizkid, Superduperkyle
Freedom Stage Saturday: DeVault, Kap Slap, London on da Track, Vanic, Dirty South, Salva, Cash Cash Sunday: Medasin, Burns, Netsky, Green Velvet, Getter, R3hab
2018 Made in America 2018 was held on September 1 and 2 in Philadelphia, it was headlined by Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar, and Post Malone and included Gunna, Fat Joe, 6LACK, and Lil Skies.
Rocky Stage Saturday: Tyla Yaweh, Jessie Reyez, Tekashi 6ix9ine, Fat Joe, Meek Mill, Post Malone Sunday: City Morgue, Rich the Kid, Belly, Pusha T, Alessia Cara, Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj
Liberty Stage Saturday: The Driver Era, Preme, Sabrina Claudio, 6lack, Janelle Monáe, Zedd Sunday: Gunna, Ty Dolla Sign, Lil Skies, Daniel Caesar, Miguel, Diplo
Skate Stage Saturday: D'usse Palooza, Armani White, Orion Sun, Injury Reserve, Kweku Collins, Saba, Show Me the Body, White Reaper, Code Orange Sunday: Mir Fontaine, Zahsosaa, Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, Petal, JPEGMafia, ASAP Twelvyy, Turnstile, Hobo Johnson & the LoveMakers
Tidal Stage Saturday: Amara La Negra, Odie, Trouble, Shoreline Mafia, Saint Jhn, SOB X RBE, Davido, Juice Wrld, BlocBoy JB Sunday: Buzzy Lee, Saweetie, Maxo Kream, Sheck Wes, Clairo, Jay Park, Jay Rock, Lil B
Freedom Stage Saturday: Louis Futon, BloodPop, Elohim, Tokimonsta, Snakehips, Louis the Child Sunday: Lophile, Lost Kings, Anna Lunoe, Jai Wolf, Cashmere Cat, Tchami
2019 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.
Rocky Stage Saturday: Dominic Fike, Bazzi, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, Juice Wrld, Cardi B Sunday: Jacob Banks, Gucci Mane, James Blake, Travis Scott
Liberty Stage Saturday: Grace Carter, Pink Sweat$, Jorja Smith, Rosalía, Kaskade Sunday: Kur, Blueface, Lizzo, Lil Uzi Vert
Freedom Stage Saturday: Yoshi Flower, Elephante, MadeinTYO, Madlib & Freddie Gibbs, Kayzo Sunday: Phantoms, Channel Tres, SG Lewis, Hippie Sabotage, Kaytranada
Tidal Stage Saturday: 99 Neighbors, Calboy, Melii, IDK, Buddy, Jay Critch, Roddy Ricch Sunday: Charly Bliss, Angelica Vila, Amber Mark, Lil Tecca, D'USSE Palooza, Megan Thee Stallion, DaBaby, Tierra Whack
2021