Now the dust has settled from what happened last month, it seems SM has set aespa's course - it would concentrate on its team base, concentrate on album sales and shun digitals.
I have said several times that the digitals significantly skewed KPop to the wrong direction, and I applaud the decision . Let the domesticists and trottists have the digitals ; in other words, make them irrelevant.
While IVE sells well, it is not going to be each for them to beat aespa's sales. IVE's songs will probably do better in the digitals, but Starship has the lesson from Sistar. Sistar always did great in the digitals but it never really went anywhere outside of Korea.
I don't think Starship will make IVE end up as another Sistar.
After this year is over, I personally think IVE will move on to fandom-only group , just like some other acts. That makes more money to the company; popularity among the general K-O-R-E-A-N public means nothing.
I think the transition will take place in early 2023 but the next promotion will probably show signs of it. Million copy sales although weak in the digitals.
I have said many times that the digitals should not play a role in an act's popularity, and I am glad tat SM has smelled the coffee.I personally think Starship will do so soon as well.