McDonald’s launches Fiesta Tour McDonald’s Music Experience.

McDonald’s will be celebrating Latin music in schools and communities across the country throughout the coming year through a major new program that includes four exciting elements. The new initiative includes the Fiesta Tour McDonald’s Music Experience, a traveling music exhibit showcasing memorabilia from a variety of Latino artists; the Latin GRAMMY In The Schools program which provides an educational and cultural learning experience for participating high school students; the Latin GRAMMY Street Parties featuring performances from established and emerging Latin music artists; and a national sweepstakes that will send winners to the 9th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards in Houston.

“The Fiesta Tour McDonald’s Music Experience is a year-long celebration of Latin music that will reach thousands of fans across the country,” said Cristina Vilella, Director, U.S Marketing, McDonald’s. “We are happy to return as a major sponsor of this year’s 9th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards and to build on our past Latin music initiatives with new and expanded elements that are sure to strike a chord with Latin music lovers nationally.”

This year, McDonald’s will serve as presenting sponsor of the Latin GRAMMY In the Schools Program, a unique education initiative that will be held at a high school in New York, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles and Dallas. Through this program, a panel of music industry experts and musicians will visit the schools to talk about the importance of Latin music and offer advice on career opportunities in the music industry. Students will also tour the Fiesta Tour McDonald’s music exhibit.

“The Latin Recording Academy is thrilled to have McDonald’s as a presenting sponsor of the 9th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, and recognizes its efforts to support initiatives that bring Latin music to fans through the Latin GRAMMY Street Parties, the Fiesta Tour McDonald’s and the McDonald’s 9th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards Sweepstakes,” said Gabriel Abaroa, President of The Latin Recording Academy.

The Fiesta Tour McDonald’s is a traveling 50-plus foot exhibit that includes a walk-through display of unique artifacts and memorabilia loaned by Latin musicians organized by decades, from the 1940’s to the present. The Fiesta Tour McDonald’s will make its way across the United States stopping at each of the five Latin GRAMMY Street Parties beginning September 28th, and then will be on display at 40 other Hispanic events through November 2009. This year’s exhibit features artifacts from some of Latin music’s greatest stars including Celia Cruz, Ricky Martin, Daddy Yankee, Alejandro Sanz, Gloria Estefan, Cristian Castro, Beto Cuevas, Carlos Vives, and Ivy Queen just to name a few.

The Fiesta Tour McDonald’s features a live DJ and interactive dance area where visitors can show off their best moves and can also obtain information about the RMHC® /HACER Scholarship Program and how to apply on www.meencanta.com http://www.meencanta.com. They will also have an opportunity to win premium items with a virtual spin the wheel game.