McDonald’s Malaysia turns up the heat in Putrajaya with spicy burger concert

In a fiery fusion of food and music, McDonald’s Malaysia brought its Duo Terhangat campaign to a high-energy close with a concert headlined by local hip-hop stars TUJU and MK K-Clique.

Held at McDonald’s Putrajaya Persint 2 drive-thru on 25 July (Friday), the concert celebrated the brand’s fan-favourite spicy burger line-up. The spicy chicken McDeluxe and its limited-time variant, the spicy lemon chicken McDeluxe.

The event marked McDonald’s Malaysia’s first-ever large-scale concert activation, blending music, food, and pop culture in a bid to connect with younger audiences and reward loyal fans.

Don't miss: McDonald’s MY drops spicy hip-hop track with MK K-Clique and TUJU

The "Duo Terhangat" ("Hottest duo") campaign, which ran from 26 June to 23 July, aimed to spotlight the spicy pair through a series of promotions, social media challenges, and collaborations with local music talents. The highlight of the campaign finale was the live performance by TUJU and MK, the two faces of the campaign who represent the ‘OG’ and ‘LIT’ flavours of the spicy burger duo.

Based on social posts by McDonald's Malaysia, the "Konsert Duo Terhangat" ("Hottest duo concert") setup was complete with life-sized installations of the iconic McDonald's french fries, soft drink cup, and neon-lit golden arches.

The free-admission concert was announced in mid-July via a series of social posts, featuring behind-the-scenes footage of TUJU and MK during the filming of their Hangat OG & Hangat Lit music video. To build buzz, the fast-food brand also launched a contest offering fans a chance to win VIP tickets, which included front-row access and an exclusive meet-and-greet with the duo.

McDonald's Malaysia's chief marketing officer Chin Mei Lee told A+M exclusively, that the concert was planned as a grand finale, building up from the brand's previous song release with 3P, and now with TUJU and MK. "Music unites people, and Malaysians absolutely love it. So, bringing all Malaysian artists together via a concert was a no-brainer, especially as part of our Duo Terhangat campaign featuring Tuju and MK K‑Clique. It’s a seamless fusion of culinary spice and musical fire," she said.

Adding to the heat were performances by artists Loca B, Alyph, SonaOne, and Benzooloo, creating what McDonald’s described as a “spicy explosion of music and energy” that mirrored the flavour-packed profile of the two burgers.

Chin said the event was more than just a concert, it was a gesture of appreciation to McDonald’s fans. “The Duo Terhangat concert reflects our commitment to creating meaningful moments through food, culture, and creativity."

“The spicy chicken McDeluxe is our number one burger, and this campaign allowed us to not only celebrate that love but reintroduce the spicy lemon chicken McDeluxe with a fresh, zesty twist," added Chin. Fans attending the event were treated to a range of surprises, including 1,000 free spicy chicken McDeluxe burgers for early birds, exclusive merch giveaways, and photo booth installations.

Besides dropping the "Duo Terhangat" Malay hip-hop track, McDonald's Malaysia recently cooked up a multilingual Fuyoohh Tenders Lagi (Whoa, more tenders) song with 3P, made up of Danny Lee, Kevin Ong and Caven Tang. 

The song's release came in conjunction with the fast-food chain's release of its new ayam tenders McD (chicken tenders) line of products, and the campaign is a collaborative effort with several agencies namely Leo Burnett, OMD, C27 and idotyou. The release of the track was also followed up with the "Party tenders beat" activation at McD Pantai Sentral on 28 June, featuring games, activities, and a performance by 3P.

“Konsert Duo Terhangat” may be McDonald’s Malaysia’s first-ever large-scale concert, but it also feels like the culmination of a year’s worth of bold, high-impact marketing. From festive open houses and CSR-driven community initiatives to the golden triangle DOOH stunt for its "Fan fries meal", McDonald’s has been steadily ramping up its presence. These music-led efforts could well signal the brand’s big comeback in Malaysia.

According to Chin, the concert perfectly reflects the brand's ongoing momentum. "We’re constantly seeking fresh ways to engage with our audience and stay on trend. Our aim is to sustain our status as an iconic brand while building real cultural resonance with Malaysians, and that’s something we’ve consistently focused on," she added.

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