Made In America Festival Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary: Past, Present, and Future
When you hear the words “Made In America,” what’s the first thing that comes to mind?
If you’re the average citizen, you may immediately recall that phrase plastered across various items in or around your home. But if you’re heavily tapped into the music scene and fancy yourself to be a regular visitor of the city of Philadelphia, however, then that phrase is indicative of music mogul and rapper JAY-Z’s ever-popular music festival of the same name.
Taking place across Labor Day weekend in the “City of Brotherly Love,” the annual, two-day event was first put on by the “99 Problems” rapper back in 2012—with the sole purpose of bringing people from all walks of life together to celebrate and connect at the intersection of music and culture.
“The inspiration is always greatness and unity,” said Jana Fleishman, EVP, Communications, Strategy and Consulting, Roc Nation. “The name Made In America resonated strongly because this festival celebrates every style of music and shows that America is made up of every influence and genre. There is only GREAT music.”
And she’s exactly right. With 2022 marking the festival’s 10-year anniversary, the recently announced musical guests are more than fitting for the momentous occasion. That includes performers like Bad Bunny, Tyler, the Creator, Lil Uzi Vert, Jazmine Sullivan, Kodak Black, Snoh Aalegra, Pusha T, Lil Tjay, Key Glock, Larry June, and Victoria Monét.
See Also: Tyler, The Creator and Bad Bunny To Headline Made In America 2022
In addition to the musical performances, the thing that also makes the Made In America festival one of a kind is the interconnectedness it has with the city it’s hosted in. With a town as rich in historic, cultural, and musical history as Philadelphia, it's no wonder that the popular festival continues to expand its efforts to highlight various artists, causes, businesses, and philanthropic organizations within the local area and beyond. And this year is no exception.
“The city is like our second home. Made In America is honored to highlight and work with local musicians and food trucks, organizations, and vendors,” Fleishman explained. “Seeing people from all walks of life and backgrounds come together, visiting each of the local food trucks, seeing the support from the great city of Philadelphia makes for a wonderful experience. We really tap into the city around us. Made In America is easy to get to, it’s in the heart of the city. Philadelphia and the vast array of talent really differentiate us from the other festivals.”
Made In America performances throughout the decade (clockwise from top left): JAY-Z in 2012, D'Angelo in 2012, Beyoncé in 20`15, Rihanna in 2016, Travis Scott in 2016, Cardi B in 2019, Lizzo in 2019, Lil Baby in 2021, Megan Thee Stallion in 2021, Lil Uzi Vert in 2021
So, after 10 years, countless musical acts and activations, and an influence that’s undoubtedly helped to cement this festival as a cultural staple for both the city of Philly and beyond summer after summer, one might wonder: what’s next for Made In America? The short answer? A whole lot. The long answer has more to do with the exact experience they hope festival-goers continue to have as the years go by—and that’s one that’s overwhelmingly impactful and beneficial to music lovers and talent from all over the country.
And while Fleishman couldn’t and wouldn’t divulge specifics, it's her hope that the festival’s local and national footprint will also continue to increase in a positive direction in the years to come and prove to be a worthwhile event for those looking to connect and celebrate music, culture, and community.
“No one can predict the future,” she explained. “But Roc Nation is about opening doors and looking towards excellence. We can only hope that we positively impact lives as well.”
The 2022 Made In America Festival takes place Sept. 3-4 at Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, PA. For more information on the event and how to get your tickets, head to madeinamericafest.com.
Tags: Music, web-original, JAY-Z, music festival, Roc Nation, festival, made in america, Apple News, Shanelle Genai,
Photography by: Photos by: Arik Mazur/WireImage; Greg Noire/Courtesy of Roc Nation; Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Anheuser-Busch; Mychal Watts/WireImage