On November 2, right before the holiday show was set to open, the musicians went on strike as the result of a dispute over salaries and overtime pay. The show's stagehands staged a walkout in sympathy with the musicians, and some rumors said that the Rockettes had walked out as well. The November 2 preseason performance was canceled.

This morning, musicians were told by Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians that the must report to work, but when they arrived for the 11 a.m. performance, they discovered that Radio City had decided to use recorded music instead.

Mikyl Cordova, a spokesperson for Radio City, said, "The musicians went on strike and did not show up for rehearsals, so they cannot then decide to come back on a whim or without a contract."

Radio City Entertainment said in a statement that the musicians had been offered salary and benefits "over what is already the must lucrative contract in the industry." According to the New York Times, the union said it had agreed to Radio City's offer, but that the show's producers changed their minds.