Jay-Z, Mayor Nutter expected to hype music fest

By now, everybody’s heard the news — Mayor Michael Nutter is making a “major announcement” this morning on the Art Museum steps with none other than Jay-Z. Yes, that Jay-Z.

While public relations agents and city spokespeople remained tight lipped yesterday over the exact details to what will come out of the press conference on the famous front steps to the Philadelphia Art Museum, speculation began in earnest.

Rumor has it they will tout a multi-day music festival called “Made in America” during Labor Day weekend, which is the first weekend in September. Dan Gross of philly.com first reported the festival Saturday night. Other blogs have since reported similar rumors. While Gross did not mention exactly where the festival would be held, the Mann Center in Fairmount Park and the Ben Franklin Parkway in front of the art museum are two leading possibilities.

Video suggests Philly concert

Fueling speculation about a music festival called “Made in America” is a 24-second online video the rapper posted on his website Friday around the same time publicists sent out cryptic PR e-mails promising a “major announcement” today.

The video montage begins with images of downtown Philadelphia, including City Hall and Broad Street. Then, clips of cheering concert crowds and a microphone and turntable quickly flash before the words “Made in America” appear. Metro/bxm