Beloved Fil-Am music and media pioneer Roslynn Alba Cobarrubias dies at 43
By Ryan General
Roslynn Alba Cobarrubias, a trailblazing Filipino American media personality, entrepreneur and advocate for Asian artists, has died at the age of 43.
Leaving a legacy: Cobarrubias, popularly known as DJ Roslynn and DJ Rose, passed away on Nov. 19, leaving behind a legacy that shaped the intersection of music, media and community engagement. As of this writing, the cause of her death remains undisclosed. She is survived by her mother, three sisters and a host of nieces and nephews.
Path to music: Born on March 12, 1980, in Los Angeles, Cobarrubias developed a profound love for music while growing up in the city of Walnut. Despite early aspirations of becoming a video jockey, familial expectations led her to pursue political science at UC Irvine. However, her passion for music prevailed, leading her to become a radio DJ and eventually a key figure in the growth of MySpace Music.
Shaping MySpace Music: Cobarrubias’ journey took a pivotal turn when she joined KSAK-FM 90.1 and launched the popular hip-hop show “Third Floor Radio.” Her knack for discovering talent and promoting artists on the emerging platform MySpace Music caught the attention of co-founders Chris DeWolfe and Tom Anderson. Cobarrubias became a MySpace marketing head and was instrumental in turning it into a music-sharing platform that would help propel the careers of major artists like Sean Kingston, Adele and Calvin Harris.
Cultural advocacy: Cobarrubias extended her influence beyond the music industry when she collaborated with ABS-CBN and established her marketing brand, 1587. She initiated community service projects, including building basketball courts in the Philippines with the Manny Pacquiao Foundation. She also sponsored Filipino American heritage nights at major sporting events, promoting acts like P-Lo, Guapdad 4000, EZ Mil and Saweetie. She also co-founded the talent discovery platform mydiveo, which showcases emerging artists.
With her death, Filipino American figures from various fields expressed their grief, highlighting her iconic status in their community. Online, tributes poured in from artists like EZ Mil, DJ E-Rock, AJ Rafael and apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas.
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