IU's collapse in front of an unknown has created a shockwave, at least in Korea.
All of her erstwhile allies are now joining the new star, who is now covered by a lot of people who used to cover IU.
IU might rebound a bit in the next album since she would be aware that her stars are now significantly dimmed, but that will probably be the last hurrah.
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I have always ridiculed the Korean argument of a 'longer career' for BTS.
I have calculated that skipping Korea and having 4 years of success would be better than whatever they would do for the rest of their life.
Taylor Swift's huge success last year was because she is now the world's boss, the world's most dominant singer. That would have been quite different if BTS were around. She would NOT have become the Time person of the year if BTS were around since BTS, not Taykor Swift,m woukd have been the best selling act with the largest concert income, although few of them would have come from Korea.
I have ridiculed those who argued for a longer career for idol groups as those who failed arithmetic at grade school. 1 billion *4 = 4 billion > 100 million * 30 = 3 billion, not counting inflation.
IU's defeat against someone few people had heard about at the beginning of February showed the futility of longevity.
So in retrospect it was good that BlackPink decided to kinda part their ways, and only reunite once in blue moon, was a good decision, after its greatest success.
Twice still lingers on because it is still relevant in Japan and to some degree USA, but this will be its last round as the members would move on.
It is ensured that BTS' world tour in 2026 will start at an arena. You can say that Lim Youngwoong, the trottist, is having a concert in the soccer stadium, the only remaining stadium in Seoul which is rarely used for concerts because Korean soccer fans complain.
Lim Youngwoong had attended a soccer game held at there in 2022 or so, to show himself before the soccer fans, and had shown that he was a fan of the team who has that stadium as their field. Which is why they kind of acknowledged him having a concert there.
The opportunity cost BTS incurred by not ditching Korea and wasting 4 prime years will NOT be compensated. RM might be compensated since he might enter politics after BTS effectively disbands in 2027 (I don't see all of the members continuing beyond there, as their venues begin to get smaller and smaller, only reuniting when they are around 50 years old), and become a congressman or something like that, but the rest lamenting their opportunity cost for the rest of their lives.
Idols, whether you like it or not, have a 'shelf life'. Even the invincible IU showed that she had a shelf life, although it was unusually longer than others.
SVT has a lot of members so a few members going to the military won't hurt it so it will probably continue to promote, but subsequent hit acts will now try to ditch Korea if possible, not returning until absolutely necessary, because IU showed the futility of longevity.
