By Jill Menze

As global warming has become an issue of paramount importance, many musicians have jumped on the eco-friendly bandwagon to use their celebrity for a good cause and raise awareness about environmental issues. This summer, the music industry aims to help combat the climate crisis on a global level with Live Earth, a 24-hour concert broadcast live from seven continents on July 7. The event will bring together more than 100 artists and two billion people watching live and on TV, radio and wireless platforms.

Among the big names scheduled to perform are the Police, Smashing Pumpkins, Dave Matthews Band and Sheryl Crow at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.; Beastie Boys, Madonna, Duran Duran, Genesis and Red Hot Chili Peppers at Wembley Stadium in London; and Crowded House, Jack Johnson and Missy Higgins at Sydney Aussie Stadium in Australia. Additional locations include China (Steps of the Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai), South Africa (Johannesburg Cradle of Human Kind), Brazil (Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach) and Japan (Tokyo Dome).

Spearheading this massive undertaking is former U.S. vice president Al Gore, who has become a pivotal figure in the American consciousness regarding the global warming crisis. The concerts are being executive produced by Kevin Wall, who also produced 2005's anti-poverty Live 8 event. Live Earth marks the start of a campaign led by the Alliance for Climate Protection, which urges individuals, corporations and governments to take action to solve global warming. All concert venues will be as "green" as possible, utilizing energy-efficient technology and on-site power generation.

The event will be broadcast live worldwide by MSN. NBC and its various outlets will broadcast live and taped coverage of the concerts in the U.S., as will BBC television and radio in the United Kingdom.