At just 26, Ross Friedman has already cracked the code on what makes a party unforgettable and the numbers don’t lie. Through his company, Slacker Media Group, Friedman has moved over 250,000 tickets, grossed nearly $4 million in sales, and built two national touring brands that are selling out venues coast to coast. The kicker? He’s doing it without relying on big-name headliners.

Instead, Friedman has tapped into culture itself. It’s a 2000s Party is a throwback phenomenon for the Y2K generation, fusing DJ sets with the soundtracks of our middle school dances and MySpace days (think Britney, Lil Wayne, and the anthems that defined an era). In just the last year, the tour pulled nearly 50,000 fans across 50 cities, packing out iconic rooms like Boston’s House of Blues and Albuquerque’s Revel.


Then there’s Sploinky Rave, a new breed of bass-heavy chaos that feels like the future of nightlife. Its sold-out AREA15 debut in Las Vegas didn’t just bring the heat, it made history by using cutting-edge hologram technology (the same tech you’ve seen at The Sphere) to project holographic fans into the crowd, blurring the line between audience and spectacle.

For Friedman, it all comes down to experience. “We don’t think of ourselves as just promoters,” he says. “We’re curators. We want every detail—the music, the visuals, the vibe—to feel like something you can’t find anywhere else.”

That mindset has fueled a meteoric rise that started humbly enough: a 16-year-old DJ in Cambridge, MA, renting out the Middle East Downstairs for his classmates. Fast forward a decade, and Friedman is running a company repped by Wasserman and on track to deliver over 100 shows before the end of 2025.


With nostalgia on one side and rave futurism on the other, Slacker Media Group is shaping what’s next for nightlife. It’s less about who’s on the lineup, and more about building the kind of party people will talk about long after the lights come up. Denver fans won’t have to wait long to see it in action as Friedman is bringing his runaway hit It’s A 2000s Party to Cervantes on August 23.

We caught up with Friedman to talk about his journey from DIY teen promoter to running one of the fastest-growing live event companies in the country, why headliners aren’t the secret sauce, and how hologram ravers became reality. Check out our conversation below!

[Rooster]: You’re only 26 and already selling out venues nationwide. Did you ever imagine Slacker Media would grow this fast?

[Ross Friedman]: In some ways yes and in others, no. I’m only 26, but I started producing events when I was 16, so this success was certainly not overnight. If I were to tell my 16-year-old self where I would be at 26, it would be beyond my wildest dreams, but getting here has been a long and steady process instead of an exponential one.

You’ve built three national touring brands without relying on headliners. Why do you think fans connect so strongly with the concepts themselves?

I think there are a couple factors that have made my brands so attractive to attendees. The first is that the core concept of each brand is something that I put extensive time and energy into developing. I’m not just coming up with ideas and throwing them at the wall—I really am deliberate with which concepts I choose to pursue. The second is the focus on curation of the brand and building a cohesive experience across all touchpoints. I really try to make the customer experience as curated and concept-focused as possible.

It’s A 2000s Party has become a massive hit. What’s your personal favorite throwback track to drop, and how do crowds usually react?

My personal favorite is Swag Surfin’ by Fast Life Yungstaz. It’s a song that gets a massive crowd reaction across every show, and I think that really creates special moments for attendees.

Sploinky Rave debuted with hologram visuals at AREA15. How did that idea come about, and what was it like seeing it in action?

I have always been interested in the production side of events, not just the promotion side, and with Sploinky Rave I knew I wanted to really push the envelope with what is possible. I spent countless hours researching the technology, testing it, and then developing the visuals that accompany them. The overall effect is incredible, and it’s absolutely something that generates excitement when people see them at the events!

You’ve been in the live events game since you were a teenager. What lessons from those early DIY shows still guide you today?

I think the number one lesson I have learned is to never give up. The live events industry is extremely volatile and notoriously difficult to work within, but I have found that despite the ups and downs, as long as I keep pushing forward the ups will outweigh the downs eventually.

Slacker Media Group is on pace for over 150 shows this year. What’s been the most rewarding (or surreal) moment on this journey so far?

One of the most rewarding moments was debuting Sploinky Rave at AREA15 to a sold-out crowd. Seeing the crowd’s energy and being able to successfully debut our holograms and merch designed by Rachel Calafell was truly incredible.

Finally, if you weren’t producing events, what do you think you’d be doing instead?

When I first started my business I was also in the process of applying to colleges, so my initial applications were actually for computer science!