Slacker Media and Beatport Launch Nationwide DJ Competition

Competition Structure and Prizes

Slacker Media Group, the experiential nightlife company behind themed events like It's A 2000's Party and Sploinky Rave, has partnered with Beatport on a nationwide DJ competition aimed at discovering emerging talent. Running 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.

Judging Panel and Talent-First Approach

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 and globally renowned club veteran DJ Spider, along with representatives from both Slacker Media Group and Beatport.

Ross Friedman, CEO of Slacker Media Group, says the initiative is designed to prioritize craft over clout. "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," he explains. "This is about giving genuinely talented performers a platform without needing to already be famous online."

Slacker Media's Growing Footprint

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. Unlike many nightlife brands that prioritize artists with large social followings or built-in ticket sales power, Slacker Media Group is building its platform around talent-first booking. The company has also begun rolling out artist-focused content strategies that spotlight DJs through collaborative posts, performance clips, and mix showcases designed to help growing talent gain meaningful visibility.

The initiative also reflects Beatport's broader vision for 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.