The BBC has been working in partnership with the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) to create a range of programming to complement the Cultural Olympiad across the UK next summer. They have announced there contribution to the London 2012 Festival, with three of the biggest music events of next year and a celebration of Shakespeare among the highlights. Tinie Tempah and Florence & The Machine have been added to the list for the Radio 1 Hackney Weekend 2012, the BBC’s biggest ever free live music event.

They will join Leona Lewis and Plan B along with over 100 UK and international artists, bands and DJs performing in front of 100,000 music fans over two days.

Elsewhere, the BBC will be celebrating Shakespeare during the London 2012 Festival, with a widespread range of programs across television, radio and online. The season includes four of Shakespeare’s history plays and a world-class cast, including Jeremy Irons, John Hurt and Julie Walters.

BBC Proms, the world’s largest classical music festival, will also be part of the celebrations. The program includes Daniel Barenboim leading the West Eastern Divan Orchestra in a performance of Beethoven's Ninth on the opening day of the London 2012.

Taking place over the weekend of 3 – 4 March 2012, Music Nation will be an unprecedented collaboration of the UK’s orchestral and music-making community, devised and led by the BBC. It will be the first nationwide countdown event to the London 2012 Festival, with content being specially recorded for BBC Radio 3.

Multi-award winning band Elbow have been chosen to provide the soundtrack to London 2012 on the BBC, with a specially commissioned piece of music which will be used across Games content.

Mark Thompson, BBC Director General, said: ‘Coverage of the 2012 Olympic Games and the Cultural Olympiad represents the biggest single broadcast event in the BBC’s history. We want to bring this unique sporting and cultural celebration to every household in the land.’

Ruth Mackenzie, Director, Cultural Olympiad and London 2012 Festival, said: ‘The host nation broadcaster is not only adding to the quality and breadth of the Festival program, but also committed to providing extensive coverage of the London 2012 Festival through the festival period.’

More details about the program of events will be announced early 2012.