[wodenokoto]

I thought SMAP had a young version, ready to graduate into the real SMAP as the core members slowly got too old, so that the brand could live on, similarly to how Morning Musume are still around as a brand, though none of the original cast is present.

[jrockway]

Morning Musume was always about churning through members:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morning_Musume#/media/File:MMa...

We always joke at work that the interns get younger every year. They don't, we all get older. But with MoMusu, they really do get younger every year.

I always wondered about the business model. As a high school student, I didn't have money to buy albums or go to concerts. As an adult, I do. But I'm not going to go see a group of 12-year-olds perform.

[makomk]

I think that once your original lineup has reached its thirties without being replaced, you've basically declared that you're not going to be taking the Morning Musume approach.

[kazinator]

That concept is not new; have you heard of Menudo?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menudo_(band)

SMAP isn't like Menudo; it doesn't have a rotating membership. SMAP denotes five specific guys.