02/17/05 - McDonald's® and Destiny's Child Team Up for 2005 Worldwide Concert Tour

McDonald's Press Release 2/17/2005

McDonald's® and Destiny's Child Team Up for 2005 Worldwide Concert Tour

McDonald's Presents “Destiny Fulfilled…and lovin' it”
16-Country Tour Launches April 9th in Hiroshima, Japan

OAK BROOK, IL (February 17, 2005) — As part of McDonald's multi-dimensional global relationship with R&B super group Destiny's Child, the company today announced details of its sponsorship of the “McDonald's Presents ‘Destiny Fulfilled … and lovin' it'” worldwide tour. The 16-country, 72-city tour kicks off in Hiroshima, Japan on April 9th followed by stops in Australia, throughout Europe and concluding in the U.S. and Canada later this summer.

“Our 2005 tour is going to be amazing and will really entertain our fans across the globe,” said Beyoncé Knowles, founding member of Destiny's Child. “McDonald's definitely shares our passion for music, and we have a lot of fun and exciting things coming up with them including TV commercials, special restaurant promotions and our role as global ambassadors for World Children's Day.”

During the tour, the trio of Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams will make personal appearances in select markets around the world, visiting McDonald's restaurants, and participating in various activities to support Ronald McDonald House Charities®. In addition, the group will be featured in special restaurant promotions and materials, and will meet with McDonald's crew and managers to celebrate the tour stops in each country.

“Just like McDonald's, the popularity of Destiny's Child knows no geographic boundaries, and this incredible tour brings that universal appeal to life in multiple cultures, continents and communities,” said Larry Light, McDonald's Executive Vice President and Global Chief Marketing Officer. “Music continues to be at the forefront of our leadership marketing strategy. Our sponsorship of the tour is a great example of how this partnership helps McDonald's reach consumers worldwide through the universal language of music.”

The 14-country Asia and European tour will feature appearances in 28 cities. Tour stops include markets such as Tokyo, Sydney, Dubai, Stockholm, Milan, Paris and London. The North America tour will kick off this July and lands in 44 cities throughout the U.S. and Canada. The tour will end in September with a final performance in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Destiny's Child formed in Houston, TX, and has risen to become one of the best-selling groups of the late-90's and early 00's. The group burst onto the music scene in 1997 with their multi-platinum single “No, No, No.” The multi-Grammy award-winning trio has sold more than 40 million records and have received a total of 22 gold, platinum and multi-platinum Recording Industry Association of America certificates. The group's newest CD, Destiny Fulfilled, was released last November and has already sold more than 5 million copies worldwide.

McDonald's is the leading global foodservice retailer with more than 30,000 local restaurants serving nearly 48 million people in 119 countries each day. Approximately 70 percent of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent, local businessmen and women.