The networks of NBC Universal have big plans for the upcoming Live Earth concerts that will occur around the globe on July 7, featuring heavy hitters such as KELLY CLARKSON, MADONNA, FALL OUT BOY, THE POLICE, KANYE WEST and more.

NBC plans to cover different aspects of the events on all of its networks that day, including a three-hour primetime special on NBC, a live 18-hour broadcast and "best of" moments from the concerts on Bravo, and other highlights on the Sundance Channel, Universal HD, Telemundo, CNBC and MSNBC.

Composer Ryuichi Sakamoto and hard rockers Linkin Park will headline the Japanese leg of worldwide Live Earth concerts to drum up support for the fight against global warming, organisers said on Monday.

Live Earth, whose planners include former US vice president Al Gore, entails 24 hours of concerts across seven continents on July 7.

"Live Earth will engage individuals, corporations and governments to take action against the climate crisis," Gore said in a statement released here.

Japan will be the only country with two events.

The main stage will be in suburban Tokyo, with a concert also planned at a Buddhist temple in the ancient capital of Kyoto, namesake of the landmark environmental treaty.

R&B artist Rihanna

The Kyoto temple event will feature the Yellow Magic Orchestra, an electro-pop outfit starring Ryuichi Sakamoto, who wrote the score for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and collaborated on movies including The Last Emperor.

California-based Linkin Park and Barbados-born R&B artist Rihanna will be the foreign musicians on the Tokyo stage, the statement said.

The Tokyo line-up also includes three top-selling female Japanese singers - Ai Otsuka, Cocco and Kumi Koda.

More than 100 artists are expected to take part in the worldwide concerts, which will start in Sydney and close in New York.

Asia will also be represented with a concert in Shanghai.