Sound bites

Music send in the clowns

What?: Ronald and Co. are making a meal of music:

McDonald’s is teaming up with Girls Aloud, Sugababes, and McFly on the Pop Challenge promotion. The new campaign will see the acts add their music to a selection of Happy Meal toys and also perform at a central London McDonald’s ‘restaurant’. Other bands are also to be
recruited for the campaign which is already being promoted on the current Kung Fu Panda Happy Meal box.

McDonald’s is inviting the Spanish- speaking market to remix its famous jingle from 1974. A new UGC-style competition will see users compete for the chance to have their version shown on a national Big Mac commercial at the end of July. Christina Milian sings her own version of the Big Mac Chant on the site (in English), as do salsa-reggae group Upground.

So what?: McDonald’s is embracing music, from R&B gigs in its forecourts to vast American Idol-style singing competitions for their staff. The Spanish ‘sing the jingle’ campaign slots neatly alongside this. It’s also a heck of a lot cheaper than the $6M it alleged paid Justin Timberlake for singing “I’m Lovin’ It”. Technically the world’s largest toy distributors, McDonald’s has promoted bands in Happy Meals before (Girls Aloud, Crazy Frog etc). A recent New Wave Nigel doll, however, sparked a lawsuit from Devo, citing over-similarity to their unique look. Ronald should sue Gene Simmons.

“The Faders, a band fronted by Midge Ure’s daughter, unveiled a musical toy under the banner of the Golden Arches a few years back. They then, much like McD’s root beer, sank without trace. Make of that what you will.”
Giles Fitzgerald, Editor, BBF

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