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The music mogul Jay-Z is not someone who has the habit of being excluded from a place. But that's what happened this week when he learned that one of his festivals would no longer take place on the most public stages: the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia
" We are disappointed that the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia expels Jay-Z wrote in a column published by The Philadelphia Inquirer Wednesday, a day after Mayor Jim.Kenney's office told local media that the Made In Music Festival America could not take place on the boardwalk after this year.
Jay-Z added, "It means zero appreciation of what Made In America has built The citizens of this city."
The Walk is a Band iconic Philadelphia which features monuments, fountains and museums. The Made in America festival began in 2012, attracting 50,000 spectators to the city during Labor Day weekend. According to VisitPhilly, the region's tourism marketing agency, it's one of the events that has allowed the city to attract a record number of visitors for eight consecutive years. "We had some operational difficulties on the boardwalk. set up and dismantle, "Kenney said at a press conference on Wednesday in response to Jay-Z's letter.The city said the major events had become a nuisance for residents near the
City officials cited roadblocks and rubbish as problems, but did not say why the Made in America festival will move while other events will continue to take place.
Mr. Kenney, who is in his first term, said that he thought that Jay-Z's entertainment company, Roc Nation, and the promoter of Live Nation concerts had been put in place. aware of the city's decision before it is reported by the local media. "Jay-Z likes," Kenney said at the press conference. "We like the concert and we want to keep it." The mayor added that the city's decision to change location was noted in a request for proposal sent to Roc Nation, which responded without complaint, he said. Mr. Kenney called it an "unfortunate misunderstanding".
Omar Al-Joulani, first vice president of Live Nation's tour, said he had not received any notification of the city's decision. The move to another part of the city did not interest festival organizers, he said.
"Benjamin Franklin Drive is the heart of the city.This is the heartbeat of Made In America," said Mr. Al-Joulani. The position of the boardwalk as the cultural epicenter of the city is why Jay-Z chose this place, he added.
Jay-Z said in his letter that since the beginning of the festival in 2012, Made in America The festival has paid $ 3.4 million in rent to the city. "
Questlove of the popular hip-hop group The Roots intervened in social media to criticize the city.The Roots produced the musical programming of the Wawa Welcome America festival in Philadelphia until 2016, date to which group broke with the event, which also stands on the boardwalk.
Social Media.
The mayor's office said Thursday that he did not want to lose the festival and had began discussions with the organizers to find another place for the event in the future.
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