Organizers did not cite any specific reasons for canceling Music Midtown 2024.
Imagine Music Festival isn’t the only large-scale Atlanta gathering to call off its 2024 edition. Music Midtown, which has taken place on and off since 1994, has announced that it will not take place this year as planned.
In their official statement, Music Midtown’s organizers did not specify a reason for their decision. “After producing legendary festivals over the past 3 decades that drew music fans from across the globe, we want to share that Music Midtown is going on hiatus this year,” it reads. “We encourage you to continue supporting live music in Atlanta and stay tuned here for future updates.”
WABE notes that this not the first time in recent or distant memory that Music Midtown has taken a break. It went on hiatus for six years in the 2000s, was among countless festivals called off in 2020 due to the pandemic, and canceled once more in 2022 for undisclosed reasons.
Music Midtown’s cancellation is nonetheless part of a disconcerting trend in the US festival landscape. Sunset Music Festival, Backwoods at Mulberry Mountain, and Charivari Detroit Music Festival are but a few that have canceled their 2024 events, with High Sierra Music Festival admitting to its fans that it “must change if it’s going to endure” past this year. More often than not, organizers of these festivals cite rising costs and changes in the spending habits of live music consumers as having factored into their decisions.
Over the years, headliners for Music Midtown have included the likes of Bob Dylan, The Strokes, Dua Lipa, and Bruno Mars. Electronic music acts like Flume, Marshmello, and Big Wild also featured on its lineups. No 2024 artists had been announced prior to the event being called off.
Music Midtown’s statement suggests that it’s possible for the event to return in 2025 or sometime thereafter. EDM Identity will share additional details as they become available.
