JYPE doesn't have the best track record for contract renewals so yes I'm worried about Day6's future, in particular whether or not Jae will continue with JYP when contract renewals come.
Thing is JYP/StudioJ if I'm being honest have been doing a pretty good job for this year or so. There's a lot of activities for Even Of Day for the KangWonDo sub-unit. EOD has what 2 albums in less than a year, 2 online concerts (one last year and one upcoming one), collaborations with brands. Young K with his radio DJ on Dekira, Wonpil with his musical. They've been doing good for EOD and it feels like at least for now they are pushing EOD to be the main face of Day6 for now at least until Sungjin comes back from military.
But then Jae's been pretty quiet. He's actually going to have a concert with 88 rising but the company isn't promoting it, which to some extent I understand because it's a project by Jae himself and isn't related to JYPE. He stopped streaming because of backlash (some drama happened but this is for another thread), and this was hard because this was his main avenue for connecting to his fans. In the past he has also expressed unhappiness with the company (not with JYP himself)
There are also instances where Jae had cryptic and vague messages on vlives like 'this is the beginning of a new arc' or 'I'll be together with Day6 for as long as I can' sort of messages. He also isn't following Day6 on twitter but he follows the members. Of course the reason he's been quiet could also be because he is still recovering from his mental anxiety.
To be really honest, what they are doing now is kinda what I predicted or actually DID want them to do. I previously mentioned in another thread (forgot what thread) that Sungjin enlist and EOD was made to keep Day6 going and EOD should continue promotions until they enlist which I feel they should enlist together. And in the meantime because Jae isn't part of EOD he could explore his own solo music. So yes it might se weird that I'm saying all those stuff I've said above even though this is what I wanted.
The thing I hate is the uncertainty and maybe how the company or the Korean public is treating Jae. Firstly I don't know if the company is treating Jae bad but they aren't obviously really supportive of his solo stuff. In fact I think they should help Jae in this aspect to some extent because this could actually help them in the western market in future since Jae's music is more west focused.
At this point I'm not 100% sure how contract renewals will go. Tbh if you ask me I feel a 2pm ish sort of situation would work well, like how Taecyeon isn't with JYP but is still in 2pm and even had a comeback recently. The same could go for Day6 if Jae choose not to continue with JYPE but still stay with Day6. Or they could do a GOT7 and leave JYPE together but hopefully continue to promote as a band. Difference with GOT7 (correct me if I'm wrong) is that members have a lot of aspirations to do their own solo stuff but they still are together in GOT7. For Day6 I don't know because for bands it kinda is a bit hard.
I do want Jae to explore his solo activities because eventually he will be alone when all the members enlist. He has also been wanting to break out of the idol image and has mentioned various times about being real about yourself sort of thing. It's just the uncertainty that is weighing on my mind about the group as a whole.
There has been a lot of reassurances that they will stay together though. Like Sungjin mentioned in his last vlive before enlistment he will try his best for Day6 to be together and also despite the cryptic messages by Jae he did say he want to be Day6 for life.
Or maybe HYBE can adopt StudioJ and Day6 over tyvm
Anyways it's just a rant