What would happen if SM's idol groups left upon Hybe's takeover?
Article: What would happen if Hybe acquired SM but SHINee, EXO, and Red Velvet left?
Source: The Joongang via Naver
1. [+690, -63] I feel like SHINee, EXO, and Red Velvet have had their run as celebrities in the industry already? They're at a point in their careers where their contracts are pretty much over, I doubt that them leaving would cause any impact on the company. Hybe's the one with hit after hit with their new groups so it's about time that SM gets refreshed with new people and a new system and let the old ideas leave...
2. [+188, -16] Do you really think any of those groups could leave SM and do better on their own? They're only promoting as it is because SM's supporting them. Not anyone can just up and leave and strike it on their own.
3. [+47, -13] I'm sure most idols these days would rather be with Hybe than Kakao ㅋ There's more to benefit from by being under the same label as BTS than anywhere else. Just look at New Jeans and Le Sserafim, they've become total hits thanks to being associated with Hybe.
4. [+40, -6] Aespa needs to stop with the fake viral marketing;;;; if they were in any mid-tier agency, they never would've made it this far
5. [+35, -4] I don't think the reporter understands how the idol industry works. They listed idol groups with over 10 years of experience who are still in no positions of power in SM. They're also not doing much better when compared to other idol groups outside of the company. They've already peaked and are only holding down at this age because they're under SM and SM is still choosing to support them. They're only able to get their hands on quality songs and albums and TV show appearances because of the SM title. If they had been under any other company, they would've been pushed out by other junior groups long ago at their age. Them leaving the company at this stage would impact no one. Hybe, on the other hand, has had a string of successful rookie debuts.
6. [+24, -1] Well.. They're free to leave once their contracts expire, it's not like they're obligated to stay with SM for life??? ㅋㅋ But I highly doubt that there'd be another company better than a Hybe/SM combination ㅎㅎㅎ
7. [+25, -4] Eh;;; Hybe loses nothing if these groups don't renew. If anything, it'd be a "thank you" if they left.
8. [+32, -16] If Aespa left right now, who would care? Let's just be honest here because Aespa is only at the position that they're at because of SM's intense marketing. Without SM's title, they'd be only be one of the many Black Pink copycat groups out there. Their songs aren't extraordinary, they haven't had a hit since 'Next Level' (which only did well because SM marketed it so much). Furthermore, the charts have constantly been proving that Hybe is producing the hottest songs in the market right now... So tell me again why any group would choose to leave Hybe? You're basically quitting your idol career at that point. A nugu group like NCT isn't even worth talking about because they've completely given up on any mainstream appeal and are surviving off of their fandom alone. Hybe has BTS already so who cares if NCT leaves or stays.
9. [+19, -4] Everyone seems to think that things will be worse for SM once Hybe acquires them but I don't think things can get any worse for them... They will be given autonomy as a subsidiary, and companies usually do better once they get acquired. They have a bigger pool of investments to pull support from. Kakao also doesn't have a mastermind like Bang Shi Hyuk...
10. [+15, -2] Oh please, SM can only do better if idols like Kang Ta, BoA, Super Junior, and TVXQ left. That would finally be the end of Got the Beat as well. All of Yoo Young Jin's line needs to leave for SM to have any chance at surviving anymore. So sick of the same old cow noise blaring music.
11. [+17, -5] ?? It's already game over by the quality of music Hybe has been putting out. Aespa's probably their only income maker at this point and I bet you they'd explode in potential under Hybe than SM. Hybe's entertainment management has been extremely solid with enough structure to handle everything.
12. [+16, -4] If anything, Hybe would probably want TVXQ, Super Junior, BoA, Soshi, and EXO to leave because it's obvious that they're only under SM still because Lee Soo Man is nice to keep them on for as long as they need. Bang Shi Hyuk's the ruthless one who disbanded Girlfriend despite fan protests. I can see Kakao needing SM since they have a strong line-up with IU, IVE, and STAYC but no boy groups so they'd need NCT but anyone would still be overpaying for SM at their current state ㅋㅋ
13. [+12, -1] SM has nothing that makes them competitive enough outside of NCT and Aespa. Any group in SM can leave and no one would suffer any impact. Honestly, Aespa really needs to step it up still... New Jeans and IVE are far ahead of them already.
14. [+12, -1] No company needs these has-been groups
15. [+11, -1] SM hasn't produced any mainstream groups in a long time. They've been stuck living in their own world. No one listens to SM's music other than SM fans. Maybe it's about time that they let all the groups go and start fresh.
16. [+14, -5] SHINee, EXO, Red Velvet? Their product value is all around the same level. SM can hype up the media to make it seem like they're all doing well but the truth of the matter is that BTS is the one winning #1 over and over on the 'Hot 100', and even New Jeans has managed to make it in, but SM has never once gotten into the top 100, and they currently don't have any songs on Melon's top 20, let alone any international charts. BoA's latest album release disappeared without a word. Hybe has been strong on the international charts but have recently been even sweeping up the domestic charts. SM's lost it and their groups really need a refresher.
17. [+10, -1] I've been an SM fan since the days of Hyun Jin Young, Yoo Young Jin, and HOT. I've probably paid enough in CDs and fan merch to have paid for at least a few windows on SM's building. What makes Hybe different from the current labels is that they're more of a group of labels. You can't really pinpoint what exactly their style is, and that's where their strength lies. They're flexible. So it makes no sense to me that people are afraid that Hybe is going to "Hybe-ify" SM... If anything, SM's the one that is stuck and stubborn on their one exact style.
18. [+10, -2] Trust me, Aespa leaving would have no impact on their stocks ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
19. [+9, -2] Also a point of difference is that a lot of SM's idols have grown up with Lee Soo Man and think of him like family. Very different from the way Lee Sung Soo runs things!
20. [+8, -2] From the perspective of these idol groups, I think they'd have more to gain from being acquired by Hybe than anywhere else. One of the biggest reasons for SM's decline is that they've been losing major players in their company to Hybe. Hybe may have a better eye for what the mainstream wants from SM.
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