WE GOT IT MADE

CALIFORNIA rides high with Coachella in April. Chicago gets a Lollapalooza every August. Austin, Texas, celebrates its musical diversity with the Austin City Limits Festival in October.

So why shouldn't Philadelphia also have a world-class, multiday music festival to call our own, one that draws from a broad range of contemporary artists and pulls an audience from near and far?

And when better to throw the party than on Labor Day weekend?

That's the thinking that motivates the Budweiser Made in America festival, with Jay-Z (with some very famous friends and relations) closing the first day/night and Pearl Jam the second.

Many a July Fourth "Welcome America!" extravaganza, not to mention a Live 8 concert, have been staged on the same spot, of course. But this festival will be the first demanding an admission fee - $75 a day, $135 for both - and limiting attendance to 50,000 (instead of 500,000). The smaller number is to be controlled with ticket gates (the main entrance is at 22nd Street) and two layers of security-patrolled fencing intended to muffle sound and block those hoping to see something for nothing.

All of which doesn't answer the most basic question: Why Philly?

Preliminary discussions about the festival began in earnest between the city administration and concert promoter Live Nation "in late January," Mayor Nutter recalled Tuesday - though all parties didn't finalize the deal and go public with plans until May.

Live Nation's local president, Geoff Gordon, said he'd been dreaming about putting on a large-scale outdoor festival here "for a number of years." Then he got wind that Budweiser, Jay-Z and charity partner United Way were looking for a location to throw a festival they'd tentatively named Made in America. "With that title, it just seemed a natural for Philadelphia," said Gordon, "so I made it my mission to bring it here."

Didn't hurt any that Live Nation has a so-called "360 deal" with Jay-Z, which makes the company and artist partners in concerts, merchandise and music. It also helped that Live Nation has good local partners in Scott Merkin's ESM Productions and Philly-based talent manager Shawn Gee, who works with talents like Jill Scott (another big festival draw) and The Roots.

Together, they sold the project to Nutter and his team, with the promise that the production would be prestigious, the venue safe. And when all was done, that the Parkway site would be returned quickly to its natural state, with promoters assuming "the lion's share" of production, security and cleanup costs, said the mayor.

As the official festival "curator," Jay-Z didn't select every act on the bill, which ranges from rapper Rick Ross and R&B sensation Janelle Monae to the electrifying bluesman Gary Clark Jr. and the cool experimental alt rock of Dirty Projectors.

"But Jay-Z took meetings and had to approve everyone," said Gordon. "And it's his vision driving the mix - to have a wide assortment of high-quality artists."

DJs such as Afrojack, DJ Shadow and Skrillex will serve somewhat as "a bridge between the other styles," added the promoter.

One of the biggest festival treats is its nonstop, jam-packed nature. The promoters have built two large stages within spitting distance of one another - the Rocky Stage is at a familiar location, in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps, while the Liberty Stage is a few hundred yards to the north.

"All you'll have to do is turn your head and body [about 90 degrees], and you can be watching the other stage performers," said Gordon.

DJs will spin continuously in the Freedom Tent, which will sit in front of the Philadelphian and Parkway House apartment buildings.

But wait, there's more, including a Made-in-Philly concession zone, where you'll find local crafts, food and talent playing on the Park Stage.

Contact Jonathan Takiff at takiffj@phillynews.com or 215-854-5960. Read his blog at philly.com/GizmoGuy.