Lee Hyori’s long awaited fourth album will not be released this month but rather, Mnet will wait until early next year to drop what could be her last album under Mnet.

Although netizens are disappointed that no showdown between the former sexy queen Ivy and current pop icon will occur,this is likely to be an effective business strategy that will keep Hyori on top and rake in money for Mnet.

At this point, Ivy’s company was probably banking on something like a showdown to get netizens interested again with the former scandalous diva. Too bad. This time, Ivy loses out. And Lee Hyori will likely release her album at the end of the promotion stage of Ivy’s album, thus cutting into Ivy’s album and song sales.

With Hyori already dominating advertisements with endorsements in almost every major industry and now the small screen with her presence on the hit SBS program “Family Outing”, it will be difficult for Ivy to advertise herself with her dirty laundry still hanging behind her.

All I can say is, Mnet is a genius.