Nina, Top Suzara, Thor back Ice Seguerra’s call against full concert uploads

OPM singers Nina, Top Suzara and Thor Dulay have joined the conversation on concertgoers recording and uploading entire live performances online, saying the practice takes away from the experience of attending a show and disregards the work behind its production.

The artists shared their views during the media conference for Nina’s upcoming 20th-anniversary repeat concert on Wednesday, Sept. 2, following Ice Seguerra’s previous callout of full-length videos from the “Sessionistas: The Playlist” show.

Suzara, the frontman of Filipino band Freestyle, said artists appreciate fans sharing short clips from their performances but questioned the purpose of recording an entire show.

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“I think if you want to post like a snippet, that’s fine. We’re actually grateful as artists,” Suzara said. “But I think posting the whole show takes away from the whole experience of it. Are you enjoying the show or are you just here for the content?”

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He also pointed out that purchasing a ticket does not give concertgoers the right to record and upload the entire performance as their own content.

“Paying for a ticket to a show doesn’t entitle you to record it and upload it as yours, as content,” he said. “It entitles you to come and share the experience, share the night together.”

“It’s hard to react to somebody who’s just really documenting the entire thing with the intention of just posting it,” he added. “It’s a pretty intimate interaction… and it’s totally weird kasi it’s like I’m performing to a camera and not to warm bodies.”

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Dulay likewise asked vloggers and concertgoers to consider the amount of work involved in mounting a live production.

“Respeto na lang din sa mga vloggers na nagpo-post ng mga shows ng iba,” he said. “Kasi syempre gumastos ‘yong mga tao, maraming nag-isip for that, maraming nag-conceptualize, maraming arreglo na mga songs na ginawa.”

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He said posting short clips for social media is understandable, but uploading an entire concert crosses a line.

Nina, meanwhile, said she has encountered audiences who record her entire sets during intimate gigs, which she also opposes.

“Snippets, okay. Pero the whole show, parang kawawa naman ‘din ‘yong nagbayad at nanood physically,” she said.

The Diamond Soul Siren noted that monitoring online upload would be difficult for artists to do so, as she encouraged fans to experience live performances in person.

“Mas maganda manood kayo physically. Iba ‘yon kesa sa YouTube. I’m telling you… Maamoy niyo kami, makikita nyo kami in person,” Nina said with a laugh.

The discussion comes as artists continue to grapple with the growing practice of turning live performances into online content, with Seguerra and his wife producer Liza Diño among those who recently spoke out against full-length concert uploads.

Suzara and Dulay are among the guest artists alongside Christian Bautista who will perform at Nina’s repeat concert on Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.

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Calvin Neria serves as director, while Soc Mina is the musical director. /ra