MAM
MTV, McDonald’s issue ‘advance warning’
MUMBAI: Fast food meets music! Fast food major McDonald’s and MTV Networks have announced a global partnership.
The collaboration launches with McDonald’s exclusive support of MTV Advance Warning. The show is dedicated to introducing young adults to emerging artists in a fresh music format. The show is a 12-episode, half hour monthly programme that marks MTV’s first global platform dedicated to showcasing emerging music talent. The programme has previously aired only in the US and helped launch careers of artists, including Joss Stone, Kanye West, Franz Ferdinand and Maroon 5 – all of whom have garnered worldwide attention and Grammy nominations.
Locally adapted versions of MTV Advance Warning, tailored specifically for MTV’s international audiences, will begin airing on MTV around the world from 19 February in Europe. The programme begins airing in Asia on 21 February, and has already debuted in Latin America and the US, where the second season has just premiered.
The global partnership with MTV adds another relevant dimension to McDonald’s popular i’m lovin’ it campaign and builds on the company’s strong connection to young adults’ passions – music, entertainment, sports and fashion. As a fresh addition to the programme, the launch episode will feature 5 in ’05. This will highlight the five artists who MTV believes have the potential to make it big. Artists spotlighted in the first episode include Kasabian, The Game, Lucie Silvas, Keyshia Cole and Razorlight.
McDonald’s and MTV kicked-off the partnership with a launch party a couple of days ago above MTV’s Total Request Live (TRL) London studios.
It featured a live performance by musical group Lola Ray, an artist who is featured in MTV Advance Warning. Asian superstar Leehom Wang – who will be collaborating with MTV Advance Warning in Asia – was also on hand to perform.
McDonald’s executive VP and global chief marketing officer Larry Light said, “Partnering with MTV to create the first-ever global new music platform will enable McDonald’s to play a more relevant and credible role in the lives of young adults. Equally important, McDonald’s is pleased to be able to support young musicians and artists and help them fulfill their hopes and dreams.”
In 2003, McDonald’s first forged a bond with young adults and the music world by establishing a partnership with pop superstar Justin Timberlake, who helped launch the i’m lovin’ it campaign by lending his musical talent to several global television commercials. McDonald’s continued the momentum through a relationship with Sony Connect – bringing the world of digital music directly to customers around the world. Last year, McDonald’s announced a partnership with Destiny’s Child, the newest global voice of i’m lovin’ it.
Brands
From mega bills to spontaneous dates: Swiggy Dineout Valentine’s report
From mega bills to last-minute plans, India celebrated love with flair
MUMBAI: Valentine’s Day 2026 was a feast for the senses and wallets alike, according to Swiggy Dineout. India’s on-demand dining platform revealed how the nation celebrated romance with big gestures, lively nights out, and plenty of spontaneous bookings.
Metropolitan hubs continued to rule the roost with Bengaluru, Delhi, and Hyderabad seeing the most reservations. Emerging cities aren’t far behind, with Ahmedabad, Jaipur, and Chandigarh joining the party. Growth was particularly striking in Surat (up 180 per cent), Vadodara (155 per cent) and Bhubaneswar (145.5 per cent) compared with the previous Saturday.
Mumbai stole the headlines with a single customer splashing out Rs 130,155 – the highest bill in the country. The city also hosted the largest single group booking, with 30 diners coming together to celebrate in style. Most Valentine’s transactions took place between 10pm and 11pm, proving love, and hunger, strike late.
Mumbai stole the spotlight with a mega-spender whose bill made everyone else blush, while savvy diners were cashing in on discounts, including a Pune customer saving 60% and another in Bengaluru saving 50 per cent. Fine dining was on fire, with bookings up 121 per cent year-on-year, though pubs, bars, and lounges remained the crowd favourites, accounting for 30.6 per cent of all reservations. Last-minute romance was the order of the day, with 66 per cent of diners booking within two hours of heading out. Together, India saved over Rs 6 crore, proving that love can be grand, yet thrifty.
Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi led the premium dining rush, showing a growing appetite for curated, high-end experiences. Meanwhile, spontaneous bookings reinforced modern lifestyles, where convenience and instant gratification rule the day.
Whether it was big spends, huge groups, or a last-minute romantic dash, Valentine’s Day 2026 proved love and dining go hand in hand – and sometimes, they go all out.
