McDonald's Corp and Sony Corp are teaming up to give away free music downloads, in a step that analysts said raises questions about McDonald's long-standing relationship with Walt Disney Co.
McDonald's will launch a US promotion on June 8 offering customers who buy a Big Mac Extra Value meal an access code worth one free song download at Sony's Connect music store.
The so-called Big Mac Meal Tracks promotion, which will run for six to 10 weeks, will later expand to Europe, McDonald's said.
The Sony alliance could be a way for McDonald's to tap in to pop culture without relying on movie tie-ins with Disney. McDonald's still has about two years left on a 10-year promotional agreement with Disney.
Like competing services, Sony Connect lets customers buy songs and download them to portable music players. Users can also listen to songs that have been copied or "ripped" from CDs.
McDonald's and Sony were scheduled to announce their partnership on Thursday at a news conference in Los Angeles.