Canada's CBC News reports that South African police have arrested five men linked to the shooting death last Thursday of reggae star Lucky Dube. Late last week, Youssou N'Dour urged South African leaders to use Dube's death as a wake-up call to address that nation's high incidence of violent crime.

In a recent conversation with gothamist.com, Jonny Greenwood discusses a wide range of topics, from the environmental impact of touring to his score for the upcoming Paul Thomas Anderson film There Will Be Blood. The soundtrack is due out on Nonesuch this December.

The New York Times, in its list of must-sees on a short trip to São Paolo, Brazil, includes Bar Brahma, because "as everyone will tell you, this is where Caetano Veloso's soulful song 'Sampa' starts out. Legend has it that Caetano wrote the song from there." 

On Saturday, October 6, David Byrne presented “How New Yorkers Ride Bikes” at New York's Town Hall as part of the weekend-long New Yorker festival. Watch the video feed from his bike, complete with audio commentary, as he rode through the streets of midtown on his way to the event.

Newly signed Nonesuch artists Punch Brothers—from left to right: Noam Pikelny (banjo), Chris Eldridge (guitar), Greg Garrison (bass), and Gabe Witcher (fiddle); not pictured: Chris Thile (mandolin)—dropped by the Nonesuch offices. Their trip included a very productive tour of the Nonesuch CD closet. Here's a snapshot of the guys getting ready to do some "research" on their new label mates.

Laurie Anderson has been awarded the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize for her outstanding contribution to the arts. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has named Dawn Upshaw among the recipients of the MacArthur Fellowship. Known as the "genius award," the fellowship recognizes exceptional creativity and continued promise.

Youssou N'Dour has been selected as one of TIME magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World" and will perform, along with John Mayer, at the gala celebration tomorrow night.

Jeff Tweedy recently spoke with Pitchfork about Wilco's new album, Sky Blue Sky.

John Adams has made the San Francisco Chronicle's society page, on the occasion of his 60th birthday and the forthcoming US premiere of his latest opera, A Flowering Tree, with Adams leading the San Francisco Symphony, beginning March 1.

Clint Mansell's score to the Darren Aronofsky film The Fountain was nominated for Best Original Score at the 64th Golden Globe Awards, to be announced live on January 15, 2007. The Nonesuch release of the film's soundtrack features performances by Kronos Quartet and Mogwai.

The 2006 Grammy Award nominations are in, and four Nonesuch recordings have been given nods: Kenny Garrett's Beyond the Wall, the Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris collaboration All the Roadrunning, Ali Farka Touré's Savane, and the Broadway revival cast recording of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd.

Steve Reich recently spoke with Pitchfork; read the interview now at pitchfork.com.