It’s a stream come true for Made in America concert fans

Thousands of music-lovers will flock to Philadelphia this Labor Day weekend for the fourth edition of the Made in America Festival. Thousands more, however, will be live-streaming the star-studded show from home.

Fans will be able to watch select acts for free on Saturday on Sunday thanks to Tidal, a Spotify-style music-streaming platform owned by rapper and Made in America creator Jay-Z.

That list includes Beyoncé, De La Soul, Modest Mouse, Death Cab for Cutie, Santigold and Philly-native Meek Mill.

Businesswise, the decision to live-stream the festival is somewhat of a no-brainer, said assistant professor Thilo Kunkel, who teaches courses offered through Temple University’s School of Tourism and Hospitality Management.

“The main draw that these festivals have are the social components – spending time with friends, being somewhere else and having the whole live experience. And that can’t be replaced by a streaming service,” said Kunkel.

What’s more, live-streaming a big music festival such as Made in America puts pressure on organizers to create a live experience worth the price of admission.

“In an entertainment setting, we don’t have to attend events. We attend them if we’re having a good time, if we’re provided with outstanding service, if we get that once in a lifetime experience,” said Kunkel.

An estimated 70,000 people are expected to attend the festival on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway  each day.