My list of I see as underlying issues of HoloStars 2.0

in short, the org started on all the wrong feet.

\* **The timing** It may be conceived during the gen 1/2 days where co-ed collabing wasn't rare, but by the time HoloStars came to be, Hololive was in the middle of changing due to the trends GAMERS and gen 3 (the first two golden gens) had brought about; CHDCT, BFE, shipping, things that have no room for men. The trends still carry today (MiComet) The door was closing (some of the very first stars fans were pre-change Holo fans) and the kinda receptive old guard was overtaken by the non-receptive newcomers. Basically the whole notion of cross promotion being a real effective tool was long a foolish notion. The problems don't end here, though.

\* **The "Male Idol" label** For a group of mostly bros, those words are a damning duo as most guys imagine vtubing types they wouldn't want to watch, like Luxiem. This goes hand in hand with the next issue.

\* **Misguided aiming/marketing** A number are Bro types, Astel has potential for a more girl-aimed type, etc. But instead of trying to use their strengths, folks in charge mindlessly aimed towards girls. This often turned away those who would have watched some of them, and the pattern would repeat with some outfits being aimed in that direction. In contrast, Niji is able to find ways to please both genders with their guyw. Tempted to say Uproar was similar mishandled with an added focus on prettiness. That and with all the fuss, they never did say how uproar was really different than OG stars. ironically with what's happened they're all equal now.

\* **The inherent spending difference** The main way for a Holostar to make nearly as much as a higher Hololive girl is finding a fangirl vein as spending tends to go hand in hand with fanaticism. It's basically why Unicorns could do financial terrorism as other saner fan types won't spend as much. I heard from someone in this sub that Stars watching/etc tends to done more casually in general. Perhaps, assuming the then status quo would persist. If the suits don't take this into consideration, the odds weren't in the boys' favor to begin with.

Miscellaneous things:

\* **The very name** HoloStars is an attempt to play off the Holo branding, something that is risky as if people feel it doesn't fit, there will be recoil. This also assumes being able to draw strength from said branding. There's also the expectation of being similar....

* **Lack of group unity/identity** Due to many factors (genmate departures rocking

StarsEN managed to avoid some of these issues but not so much others. Ironically, the hatedoms that target them are free PR, especially with those who want to stick it to the haters.

All these things basically salted the earth for JP stars that no amount of "water" would have plants sprout