It seems that Chizumatic have some highly critical views on Idolmaster… but to me, the franchise have a big difference compared to something to the blatant commercialism of Idols in real life… Just look no further to the AKB48 or Girls Generation. They have the girls sing to bubblegum pop music and use them until the producers decide to get rid of them through “graduation” and we never hear from them ever again. He should have used the energy on that rather than well, girls willing to join a production group and singing some songs for fun. The flip side is that they at least they songs that go along with their personalities and not poisoned by commercialism of the Idol industry in reality. But hey, I enjoy it more because it’s fictional and not exactly hurting anyone.
Update (May 11, 2012): I clearified my thoughts on this issue and more in my updated editorial on Eastern Asian Idols as the problem lies in the companies’ control of the girls’ lives rather than exploitation.