Slacker Media Group, the experiential nightlife company behind some of the country’s fastest-growing themed events like It’s A 2000’s Party and Sploinky Rave, has announced a new nationwide DJ competition in partnership with one of the most influential brands in electronic music — Beatport — aimed at discovering emerging talent based purely on skill and creativity.
Launching June 8 through June 28, the competition invites DJs to submit a one-minute performance video tagging both brands for a chance to win a 10-city USA headlining tour and $8,000 in total prize money across Slacker Media Group’s events. Entries will be judged by a panel that includes Tay James, Justin Bieber’s longtime DJ and one of the most respected names in open-format DJing, alongside house technical mixing icon James Hype, globally renowned club veteran DJ Spider, along with representatives from both Slacker Media Group and Beatport.
“At a time when so much of the industry feels transactional, we wanted to create something that reminds people why DJ culture matters in the first place,” says Ross Friedman, CEO of Slacker Media Group. “This is about giving genuinely talented performers a platform without needing to already be famous online.”
The announcement arrives as Slacker Media Group continues its rapid rise within music culture, having sold more than 125,000 tickets across its events last year alone. But unlike many nightlife brands that prioritize artists with large social followings or built-in ticket sales power, Slacker Media Group is intentionally building its platform around talent-first booking.
In an era where many emerging DJs feel pressure to become influencers before artists, Slacker Media Group’s model stands in sharp contrast to much of the modern nightlife ecosystem. The company has also begun rolling out artist-focused content strategies that actively spotlight DJs through collaborative posts, performance clips, and mix showcases designed to help growing talent gain meaningful visibility beyond their own audiences.
The initiative also reflects Beatport’s broader vision for the future of DJ culture. Following the integration of Beatsource into the Beatport platform, the company now connects open-format and electronic music communities through a single ecosystem built for discovery, curation, and performance. Beatport’s involvement reinforces a shared mission with Slacker Media Group: creating meaningful opportunities for talented DJs to be discovered based on their craft rather than their social following.