Yahoo! Rocks reignites passion for OPM via social media

Not even the heavy rains could dampen their passion for OPM or original Pilipino music.
 
Despite the downpour and the holiday traffic jams, thousands of fans trooped to the Yahoo! Rocks concert at the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds on Dec. 8.
 
It was a testament to their commitment to seeing their favorite Pinoy acts perform live. In the age of digital distribution, whether through piracy or legitimate means, it’s this kind of passion that OPM needs to survive and evolve.
 
Fans on site also made sure they shared their enthusiasm on their social networks, giving live updates of the event on Twitter using the official hashtag, #YahooRocks. They also interacted with other fans watching the concert’s live video stream and live blog.
 
Y! Rocks rocked on Twitter

“#YahooRocks awakened my #rocker-spirit again.. Big Thanks @YahooPH ^_^ #awesome #pinoyrock #OPM,” tweeted blogger @UrMajesty Sire.
 
“salamat sa #YahooRocks sa magagandang at malulupet na tugtugan kagabi...xD kahit basa ok lang!!!\m/” said @jodsz87.
 
Two fans who won Purple VIP tickets to the concert via a promo conducted on the @YahooPH Twitter account also shared their excitement at being able to watch their favorite acts perform live.
 
“Here at MOA for #YahooRocks masaya kahit umuulan :) YEAAHHH @YahooPH,” tweeted @iambrixtonlao.
 
“wooohooo!! @YahooPH Rocks!!!! Saya! #YahooRocks,” said another ticket winner, @katweetsz.
 
Twin passions: music and social media

It’s this twin passion of the Filipino youth for music and social media that OPM artist and Yahoo! Rocks judge Dingdong Avanzado (@iamdingdong_A) cited during the press briefing that preceded the concert.
 
Avanzado thanked Yahoo! Philippines for staging the one-of-a-kind OPM concert, and for using its power and reach to support Pinoy music artists. The established acts that performed at the concert were all chosen by Yahoo! readers via an online poll.
 
As important, 12 aspiring artists were also chosen by Avanzado and fellow judges Karl Roy and Francis Reyes as among the Yahoo! Rocks Breakthrough Artists who won the opportunity of a lifetime by performing before a crowd of thousands with many of their musical idols. 
 
Artists on the challenges OPM faces

“I’m just new to social media,” Avanzado quipped, who can be followed on Twitter through @iamdingdong_A.  But, he said it was a powerful tool for OPM artists to reach out to fans and build their fan base. He said that with the challenges posed to OPM by piracy and competition from foreign artists, social media and legitimate digital distribution would help Pinoy artists evolve.
 
Jett Pangan of The Dawn echoed this need to adapt. He urged committed OPM artists to keep performing even when they don’t have access to the same kind of budget that foreign artists have for music videos and concerts.
 
“Sadly, gone are the days when concerts by local artists would have full commercial support,” Pangan said, pointing out that the younger generation may not even be aware of the time when OPM artists were the ones filling up concert stadiums and other venues.

Still, he said, fans who continue to take the time to watch their favorite Pinoy artists are proof of their commitment. Pangan also thanked Yahoo! Philippines for helping educate the younger generation about OPM.
 
‘Support original content by local artists’

Rocker Karl Roy was also very eloquent in stating the case for OPM.

“I'm not saying it's wrong to support foreign music. But we must support original content from local artists,” he said, a statement which was retweeted several times when it was posted by @YahooPH, including OPM stalwart @jimparedes.
 
What Yahoo! Rocks showed was how young and old OPM fans, and emerging and established OPM artists, could all be brought together by digital media and a common passion—a passion they were willing to express by braving the rains just to show their support…and having a rocking good time.
 
“Here at #Starbucks #MOA TAking a break from the rain. #yahoorocks with @popazrael @Chinkychinky http://t.co/FvZ9Qrvx,” tweeted @mykesoon. 
 
“Finally napanood ko rin ang Hijo #Yahoorocks :)” said @karlaredor.