In a recent interview that YG Entertainment's Yang Hyun Suk revealed that he believed that the idol fad could soon be over.

When asked, "It seems there weren't many idol groups that performed well in the first half of the year. Why do you think that is?", he answered, "The idol fad is over. Now, the market has moved on from idols onto singers with artistic qualities such as Busker Busker and Psy. It'll take about five years for the idol phase to come back. At then end of the 90's, there were a myriad of idols such as H.O.T, S.E.S, and Fin.K.L. Then you saw a shift in the beginning of the 2000's where vocalists such as Big Mama and Wheesung gained popularity. You have to read the flow rapidly and follow the market. Even a producer like me doesn't really like watching music programs. Eighteen out of 20 teams on the program are usually idols and they're all the same. When one composer makes a hit and gets popular, everyone immediately runs to him to get a song. The public will become bored as well. It's frustrating because the music program producers prepare and work really hard. If you want to come out alive, you have to be different from the competition. Look at Psy, you're not gonna be popular just because you're pretty."

At this, Yang Hyun Suk was again asked, "If the idol market is over, then why does YG Entertainment still produce rookie idols?"�The CEO answered, "That's why we are also very careful, because something has to be different. Even though we're not at the stage to say much [about our new groups] yet, they're going to be different from the basic rookies. Their style and concepts are all very different. There are a lot of people who say, 'YG doesn't look at faces / appearance'. I watched TV and wondered what would happen if pretty girl groups such as Girls' Generation, Fin.K.L and S.E.S performed hip hop songs like YG. Wouldn't it be fun if they went through the entire stage rapping 'intensely'? I've been teaching for 3 years, and it's very fun personally. It's interesting. I imagine how the market would be if YG did that, it's quite thrilling."

Do you agree with him on his views?

Source: Ilgan Sports via Nate