The list of artists that will play this summer's 'Live Earth' concert will be announced next week, with U2 and Kylie Minogue expected to top the list.

Other acts taking part in what will be the biggest charity gig ever held are thought to include Oasis, Robbie Williams and Coldplay.

Last Friday, American vice president Al Gore met with a host of media personnel in London, to begin planning the event. "It was the most stellar array of media figures you could ever see but to get all those people in the room on a Friday night shows how willing they are to help," said an inside source.

The live shows will take place across the world - in England, the USA, Japan, South Africa and Brazil - and will occur on July 7 of this year.

Gore himself was keen to rally the cause at the meeting, telling those present: "Television hypnotises billions but it is a one-way conversation filling minds with junk food. The only way to breathe meaning back into our words is through music. We need you."