"INFINITE will not change," Sung Kyu declared to the crowd during the encore stage at INFINITE's World Tour concert on August 9.

The seven-member boy group has, and the past couple days, found themselves under a new label, Woollim Label, that is.

With the announcement the other day that SM Entertainment subsidiary SM C&C was to merge with the group's agency, Woollim Entertainment, to form a new label under the SM family tree, many fans had expressed their outrage that INFINITE would change because of the larger company's influence.

During this weekend's show in Seoul, the group members attempted to put everyone's minds at ease.

"We trust our CEO's decision," explained Sung Yeol. "Everyone just trust us and follow us. We'll give back as much as you trust us."

With the agency merger, SM Entertainment has set in motion plans to become Asia's largest music company, putting itself on par with the Universal, Warner and Sony Music groups.

In a statement about the merger and future plans for the company, SM Entertainment said, "In terms of business structure and scale, we will acquire international competitiveness and will stand as Asia's premiere music group which can compete with major global music groups."

Market domination is in the works for SM, one of South Korea's longest-running and most successful agency in the modern age.

Due to the huge financial power of the group, and their unique global position, acts now under the Woollim Label, which not only include INFINITE, but also Nell and Tasty, will have more ease in getting their music out to a larger fanbase.

Some fans have expressed hesitation (or even outrage) over the merger, citing that SM rarely allows its artists to offer input in the creative process, but that does not seem to be the intention here.

SM has said that they will merely be handling the business side of things, namely music distribution and initial investments, but that the Woollim Label, a subsidiary, will manage the music production process.

Furthermore, they stated that the new label will mark the company's move away from their long-held signature style and will incorporate a variety of eclectic artists and genres.

The music industry is just that, an industry - it is driven by money.

This merger does not mark SM's attempt at overtaking the creative process for groups like INFINITE, just a way for them, and everyone else, to share in the profits.

Say what you will about big business, media conglomerates, and the like - but this is how the economy, and the music industry are set up.

As the INFINITE members urge fans to stay on their side, to continue supporting their music, it is important to keep in mind that in this business more money is always a good thing.

Being attached to SM Entertainment means that the former Woollim Entertainment artists, and the others to be signed to Woollim Label in the future, will have more opportunities to work with top producers, songwriters, and choreographers, giving both their music and their bank accounts a boost.

And as Woo Hyun said to the fans in the crowd at Friday's concert, "There's nothing we did wrong. We just worked hard to be our best from the beginning. We're always thinking about you. Don't misunderstand. INFINITE will get bigger. Please look forward to it."