I don't think so no. They just won't be as popular as AKB for a myriad of reasons. Age factor, more publicity, the fact that they're on all the time on TV, more money behind them.... Don't get me wrong, I'm proud of my girls, they have worked hard to get where they are now and want them to be as big as AKB, but I don't see it, personally.
Ironically enough, I could see them more popular in America than in Japan. AKB is already pretty popular in America, as they performed at the Anime Expo in Los Angeles, and their stuff is always at a Kinokuniya Bookstore whereas it's
rare to see Ebisu Muscats stuff (and I am the only one who picked up the only Muscats-related magazine that wasn't wrapped in plastic because of adult content, so that should tell you something). Their policy on that is because a majority of the 'Cats are tied with the adult video industry, they won't sell some of the Muscats products too liberally. Which brings me to my next point about the Muscats and it ties in with what I learned in my History of Psychology class today, and it is the idea of humanism. Are the Ebisu Muscats considered good or evil just because of the work they do outside of J-Pop? Most people, particularly in a Christian-based America would say they are not, simply because they literally have sex for money, with the only difference being a camera. However, with what I learned in that class, I would say that their occupation does not govern their human nature. Look at Yuma Asami, a perfect example. Calculating how many AVs she has completed, I can safely guess she has had sex with 100+ men. But we see her human nature on camera, and we know that she is a very good hearted, good willed woman. But will judgmental people disregard her human nature just because her accomplishments are tied in with the adult film industry? Of course they would. All I'm trying to say here is that the judgments people have about the Muscats may be what's preventing them from evolving as a unit. The AV/gravure thing is a bit of a double-edged sword; it was an interesting way to increase their popularity, especially when you have some of the biggest names in AV such as Sora Aoi and Akiho Yoshizawa at the helm. But because they are in AV, people will have judgments about them that are not speaking very positive, and these judgments will prevent the Ebisu Muscats from being able to sell their CDs, T-shirts, or any of their merchandise, at a Kinokuniya Bookstore freely. The only solution to this is to stop having judgments about them that are not speaking positive. However, because in America, you have people who pride the right to free speech, people will say what they want, or in some cases have, to say about the Muscats. But I digress, when I said that AKB could be as popular as the Muscats in America, this is what I mean. Perhaps someone could go on YouTube and gain popularity as a YouTube sensation like TimothyDeLaGhetto or KevJumba. If they are popular enough they could eventually mention how much they love the Ebisu Muscats in a video, raising their popularity off of curiosity. Then maybe this YouTube sensation could co-MC one of the Onedari Muscats!! SP episodes or something. Basically, doing something outrageous could get their attention, but the person who does something outrageous has to have a pretty decent fanbase. I was thinking of doing that...covering a few widely recognizable songs from bands such as Queen, The Beatles, Foster the People or fun., and then eventually I would get to Ebisu Muscats songs so I could not only raise the curiosity about them and increase their popularity but it is a way to get their attention. After all I
do know the Banana Mango, Purukawa, Honey Trap and Kuku Dance routines by heart
tl;dr: People are too judgmental about some of the 'Cats because most are in the AV industry, even though they are good-hearted women. Thus, this will hold them back as a group and they probably will never be as popular as AKB unless someone does something wild to no only raise curiosity about them, but also to get their attention. And I might just do that.