The Sakimichi Series wouldn’t really be that well-known had it not been for the existence and popularity of AKB48.

People at least expect something from the Sakimichi Series because they’re produced by the same person who produced AKB. They have the same “idol you can meet” concept, but with a different theme than AKB. That’s why when they performed well, they shot to stardom with much coverage.

AKB were nobodies at first. They had to perform in a small theater with not much media coverage. They had to work their way up with little resources they have hoping that one day, one of their songs will be a hit.

Heavy Rotation became mainstream indeed but Maeda was already known as THE center of AKB even before that. Heavy Rotation song just placed AKB in the limelight and as a result pushed Maeda even further to the front.

Anyways... you’re right about “when one person is expected to be THE representative of the group, they don’t and won’t last” . I think that’s why Maeda left. There maybe Yuko and the others in AKV but management will definitely push her at the front if she stayed. I’m sure she would break eventually, too.

Afterall, maeda, at one point, hated being the center, but because people want her and management want her, she HAD to be the center.