McDonald’s will sell a BTS Meal inspired by the iconic boy band in nearly 50 countries

• McDonald's and BTS are partnering on a new meal.
• McDonald's has had massive success with celebrity collaborations, like the Travis Scott Meal.
• The BTS Meal will be available in nearly 50 countries.
• See more stories on Insider's business page.

McDonald's is partnering with the famous Korean boy band BTS on a new signature order promotion this spring.

Beginning May 26, US McDonald's customers can order a BTS Meal, made up of the band's favorite order. The BTS Meal includes 10 piece McNuggets, medium fries, a medium Coke, and Sweet Chili and Cajun sauces inspired by menu items in McDonald's South Korea.

"We're excited to bring customers even closer to their beloved band in a way only McDonald's can – through our delicious food – when we introduce the BTS signature order on our menu next month," Chief Marketing Officer of McDonald's US Morgan Flatley said in a statement.

Read more: The co-owners of P. Terry's turned a small burger joint into a beloved Texas franchise with 20 locations. They share how they got their start and their plans for expansion.

McDonald's has partnered with celebrities on signature order campaigns before to huge success. The Travis Scott meal last fall, in particular, was so popular that some locations ran out of Quarter Pounder ingredients. It was also enriching for Scott personally, as he netted at least $20 million from the deal, according to Forbes. The chain also sold a J Balvin meal last October which included a Big Mac, fries, and an Oreo McFlurry, although the accompanying merch collection was later canceled.

Collaborating with young artists and creators became huge for fast food chains in 2020. The deals helped brands connect with Gen Z customers, and often end up on social media and as TikTok trends.

Like both other celebrity collaborations, the BTS Meal is made up of already existing menu items to draw in customers, a move analysts praised, though the sauces are a new addition in the US. With a celebrity endorsement, brands can harness the energy and excitement of a new product without actually adding new menu items.

The era of fast food and celebrity partnerships isn't likely to end anytime soon. Brands continue to look for strategies to reach younger customers, and they've found something that works.

"They look to recommendations much more than any other generation has. They're very reliant on social media. They're very reliant on their friends," Flatley told Business Insider.

The BTS Meal is the first signature order collaboration available nearly worldwide, in nearly 50 different markets on six continents.

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