After a long week of back and forth, it looks like Made In America is staying in Philadelphia. Mayor Jim Kenney announced the news after a "productive" meeting with Jay-Z's Roc Nation company.
Kenney and Roc Nation Chief Operating Officer Desiree Perez agreed to keep the annual music festival at Benjamin Franklin Parkway, with both committing to address the challenges that come along with maintaining an event of that scale.
"I am greatly appreciative of everything that Made in America has done for the City of Philadelphia and I remain committed to its continued success," Kenney said in a statement. "The Made in America festival belongs in Philadelphia—the birthplace of our country—and I'm optimistic that we can turn an unfortunate misunderstanding into a positive outcome and even stronger event. I look forward to working with Roc Nation and Live Nation, and maintaining this Philadelphia tradition for years to come."
"We are happy to announce the Made in America festival will continue at the heart of the Philadelphia, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for many years to come," Perez added. "After a candid and constructive discussion with the Mayor, we are confident any miscommunication is corrected, and we are proactively addressing any concerns. We are committed to bringing the best experience possible to Philadelphians and all music lovers as well as the continuing prosperity of the city."
The issues arose when Kenney announced that the Parkway would not host the festival next year, causing Jay-Z to write a not-so-happy op-ed for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Kenney later called the controversy an "unfortunate misunderstanding."
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