If iKON didn't have a scandal and was properly managed by YG, how big do you think they are now?

They most likely wouldn't have reached BTS level, but honestly if YG hadn't shipped them off to Japan after their debut I can see them having a fairly large fandom for a bg. They were always a talented group and I would say that if it wasn't for the scandal it was mismanagement that hurt them the most.

For me they were one of the rare bgs that I came close to stanning. I liked all the members but it was Hanbin that really drew me to the group. It's such a shame what happened to them.

Another instance of YG fcking up their groups.

not as big as people think. They were already not doing that well before the scandal. Maybe they'd be like winner level or slightly above but not a top group at least

Quote from ninichan

deserved.

why is that happening tho-

I am not sure. It's because of him performing it maybe. It went a bit viral after that.

No, they couldn't have challenged BTS. Musically they're mostly neck and neck for me, both have some very strong standouts and also some weak moments. But iKon couldn't compete in terms of radio/TV friendly personalities.

Quote from SandyBee3

I don’t think so… their follow up single after LS was not meeting the same level of success or was close to the success LS had… and this was before the scandal.

This. Winner and iKon both have generally had smaller, though stable fanbases, but their success with chart-topping hits has been very unpredictable. Definitely not a guarantee that every release would be a big hit (just a matter of how big) like Big Bang basically was.

Quote from ninichan

oh my? which b side?

remember me.. it even entered realtime top 100 today earlier \

its around 170 on melon daily

I remember reading some old bts vs ikon threads on the old forum from around that time. People used to argue about who was bigger between them very seriously. The threads were as common as the aespa vs itzy ones. It very was funny reading the comments and shade made towards bts while knowing how things turned out lol

At that time ikon was considered bigger than bts in Japan and were doing dome tours I think.

Without the scandal no doubt they'd be in a better place than they are now but nowhere near bts. Their charting in Korea would be much better I think. They had some good digitals even before love scenario happened.

Quote from nahadoth

I remember reading some old bts vs ikon threads on the old forum from around that time. People used to argue about who was bigger between them very seriously. The threads were as common as the aespa vs itzy ones. It very was funny reading the comments and shade made towards bts while knowing how things turned out lol

At that time ikon was considered bigger than bts in Japan and were doing dome tours I think.

Without the scandal no doubt they'd be in a better place than they are now but nowhere near bts. Their chairing in Korea would be much better I think. They had some good digitals even before love scenario happened.

You made me remember an article from YG in Japan where they said that BB had surpassed the audience amount for Arashi concerts, everyone went crazy because it is difficult for a Korean group to overcome Arashi's domes and stadiums tour. There they started showing photos of IKON and their dome concerts where YG used some photos of TVXQ as mediaplay and the supposed popularity of IKON in Japan.

BTS is an anomaly, so no but they could have become the 2nd most popular 3rd gen bg overall with the right songs and good push.

for IKON everything since debut was mismanagement, such wasted potential, well challenging bts is reach but they could have been much better now

Not just iKON, pretty much every group they didn't manage properly. Even BIGBANG only got 3 full albums and I think BB got the most push just because they are the first idol group by YG.

They always have hiatus after big debut and send their group to Japan . I don't get it .

Even winner who is the original 'monster rookie' got a hitaus for a year after their debut and after that their exit:e not doing good as expected and the whole exit project got scraped .

Member leaving coz of the depression caused by pressure of the project (taehyun).

Their big comeback is really really.

With iKon they just straight up send them to Japan touring . After the successful debut and couple of comeback .

After the Japan tour bling bling not doing as good until Love scenario

Bp got lucky imo coz GG fans are more loyal where BG fans tends to swerve alot . And gg are more popping off in 2016-2017 ish . (I'm talking about the group who debut that year).

Oh this got revived

Uhh bigger than now that's for sure...

Unsure about the actual magnitude though, I doubt they'd be BTS level but they'd be big I'd say

I don't know their timeline that well (I rooted for Team A during WIN war) but from my understanding the event in real-time which caused the scandal occurred around #WYD era. Therefore, the event may have led to the one-year hiatus between 2016 and 2017. What I'm insinuating is circumstances which lead to the scandal affected how the group was managed. Reactionary management rather than proactive management.

i think they would be as famous as.....idk maybe like straykids???

Lol not as big as u think

YG gave ikon 4 cbs aka 4 actual albums in 2018 but they still didn't achieve much besides Love scenario