One of the best Mini LED TVs I've tested is $1,100 off at Best Buy for Black FridayNEW YOR , Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CLOSING PRICES AS OF 11/30/24 NAV 18.81 MKT 16.65 AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN AS OF 11/30/24 NAV (%) MKT (%) One-Month* 10.45 9.90 Year to Date* 21.20 20.98 One-Year 34.42 34.17 Three-Year 6.73 5.74 Five-Year 12.01 11.80 10-Year 10.34 10.18 *Not Annualized Important Performance and Expense Information All performance information reflects past performance, is presented on a total return basis, net of the Fund's investment advisory fee, and reflects the reinvestment of distributions. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than performance quoted. Returns as of the recent month-end may be obtained at www.royceinvest.com . The market price of the Fund's shares will fluctuate, so that shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when sold. The Fund invests primarily in securities of small-cap and micro-cap companies, which may involve considerably more risk than investing in larger-cap companies. The Fund's broadly diversified portfolio does not ensure a profit or guarantee against loss. From time to time, the Fund may invest a significant portion of its net assets in foreign securities, which may involve political, economic, currency, and other risks not encountered in U.S. investments. PORTFOLIO DIAGNOSTICS Average Market Cap 1 $3368.5M Weighted Average P/E 2 18.6x Weighted Average P/B 2 2.3x Net Assets $2.19B 1 Geometric Average : This weighted calculation uses each portfolio holding's market cap in a way designed to not skew the effect of very large or small holdings; instead, it aims to better identify the portfolio's center, which Royce believes offers a more accurate measure of average market cap than a simple mean or median. 2 Harmonic Average : This weighted calculation evaluates a portfolio as if it were a single stock and measures it overall. It compares the total market value of the portfolio to the portfolio's share in the earnings of its underlying stocks. The Price-Earnings , or P/E, ratio is calculated by dividing a company's share price by its trailing 12-month earnings-per-share (EPS). The Fund's P/E ratio calculation excludes companies with zero or negative earnings (17% of portfolio holdings as of 11/30/24). The Price-to-Book, or P/B, Ratio is calculated by dividing a company's share price by its book value per share. The Price-to-Book , or P/B, Ratio is calculated by dividing a company's share price by its book value per share. Portfolio Composition TOP 10 POSITIONS % OF NET ASSETS (SUBJECT TO CHANGE) IES Holdings 2.1 PAR Technology 1.4 Assured Guaranty 1.4 Impinj 1.3 SEI Investments 1.2 Enovis Corporation 1.2 E-L Financial 1.0 Air Lease Cl. A 1.0 Arcosa 1.0 Haemonetics Corporation 1.0 TOP FIVE SECTORS % OF NET ASSETS (SUBJECT TO CHANGE) Industrials 24.5 Financials 20.8 Information Technology 16.0 Health Care 9.5 Consumer Discretionary 9.1 Recent Developments Royce Small-Cap Trust is a closed-end diversified management investment company whose shares of Common Stock (RVT) are listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Its primary investment goal is long-term capital growth, which it seeks by investing at least 65% of its assets in equity securities primarily of small- and micro-cap companies. Daily net asset values (NAVs) for Royce Small-Cap Trust are now available on our website and online through most ticker symbol lookup services and on broker terminals under the symbol XRVTX. For more information, please call The Royce Funds at (800) 221-4268 or visit our website at www.royceinvest.com . An investor in Royce Small-Cap Trust should consider the Fund's investment goals, risks, fees, and expenses carefully before investing. Important Disclosure Information Closed-End Funds are registered investment companies whose shares of common stock may trade at a discount to their net asset value. Shares of each Fund's common stock are also subject to the market risks of investing in the underlying portfolio securities held by the Fund. Royce Fund Services, LLC. ("RFS") is a member of FINRA and has filed this material with FINRA on behalf of each Fund. RFS does not serve as a distributor or as an underwriter to the closed-end funds. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/royce-small-cap-trust-nyse-rvt-as-of-nov-30-2024-302338560.html SOURCE Royce Value Trust, Inc.

Kraken is one of the top-performing CEXs (centralized exchanges) in the world. This massively popular trading platform enables new and experienced users to buy, sell, and trade +185 cryptocurrencies across 7 fiat currencies. Since its launch, Kraken has pioneered efforts to drive mainstream adoption. As such, demand for Kraken stocks remains high. While Kraken hasn’t officially announced plans to go public, it has been rumored that its executives are considering the decision. If Kraken did announce plans to host an IPO, most analysts agree that it would be met with strong investor support. The company has a proven track record, innovative features, and educational aspects that add to its value. Currently, Kraken remains private, meaning you would need to acquire pre-IPO shares to hold Kraken stock. Here is how you can get your hands on some pre-IPO Kraken shares. What is Kraken? Kraken was first introduced in 2011 by founder Jesse Powell. In September 2013, Kraken officially launched out of San Francisco. Its goal was to provide users with secure and easy Bitcoin and Litecoin trading options. Shortly after its launch, the exchange began to add other popular cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum. In 2021, Kraken expanded its operations further with its mobile trading app. This mobile solution helped propel the CEX into the spotlight. The mobile app and desktop platform included features still new to the crypto market, such as margin trading, staking, advanced ordering, and more. The mobile app streamlined access and simplified the onboarding process, driving user numbers above +10M. Since then, the CEX has continued its pioneering efforts, including the introduction of its in-house wallet that serves 8 popular blockchain networks. The wallet allows users to seamlessly leverage their digital assets across the Kraken ecosystem, enabling users to generate revenue from the security of their wallet. This year, the Kraken NFT (non-fungible token) marketplace officially opened. Notably, users can create, trade, review, and collect digital assets directly using their Kraken wallet via the NFT marketplace, further enhancing security and reducing technical barriers. Kraken's decision to support NFT trading was a smart pivot as the NFT market remains a fast-growing sector. Historical Funding Rounds Summary of Kraken Funding: Funding Rounds Breakdown: Key Investors: Kraken has backing from prominent investors, including RIT Capital Partners, MoneyPartners Group, SBI Group, Hummingbird Ventures, Evolution VC Partners, ADS Ventures, and many more. Funding Data Sourced from Tracxn Why Invest in Kraken? The main reason for investing in Kraken is that it’s a global leader in the competitive CEX market. The firm currently ranks 4th among +3700 competitors, according to Traxn. This dominant position was earned through a combination of providing stability, security, and ease of use. Kraken has international notoriety and services available in 190 countries. The exchange lists $207B in quarterly trading volume and has recently made a pivot towards institutional clientele with the opening of Kraken Institutional, which focuses on helping big businesses enter the digital asset economy. Kraken Smart Acquisitions Another key point that investors shouldn’t neglect is that the Kraken management team is an expert at acquiring firms to expand their operations. For example, in 2016, Kraken purchased NY-based exchanges Coinsetter and Cavirtex. A year later, the exchange acquired a charting software platform called Cryptowatch. In 2019, the firm entered the derivatives trading market with the acquisition of the British exchange Crypto facilities. Each acquisition strengthened the exchange's market positioning and improved consumer confidence. In 2023, the company acquired a Virtual Asset Service Provider license in Spain, Italy, and Ireland, expanding its EU operations and opening the door for more Euro trading activity. Kraken Security Kraken provides enterprise-level security to its users. As part of this approach, the company earned an ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification, demonstrating the platform's commitment to upholding international security standards. Additionally, it's never been successfully hacked, adding to its reputation as a reliable trading option. Interestingly, it was the Kraken Exchange team that figured out who had hacked the FTX exchange, which resulted in billions in losses. It turned out the hacker moved some of the funds from a Kraken wallet to the same wallet in which he stored the stolen FTX funds, allowing investigators to reveal his identity. Kraken Transparency Kraken provides a high level of transparency to the market. The company has a proof of reserves protocol that utilizes third-party auditors to inform the community about the true state of the Exchange's reserves. Additionally, it has built many vital partnerships with dominant banking institutions as part of its regulatory-friendly approach. How to Buy Kraken Pre-IPO Shares The hope remains high that Kraken will go public after a few more private funding rounds. However, no exact date has been given. As such, Kraken remains a privately held company, meaning that you will need to utilize a specialized approach to get access to shares. Here is what you need to consider. 1. Pre-IPO Secondary Marketplace Secondary markets are purpose-built exchanges that connect pre-IPO shareholders with potential investors. These marketplaces can offer these assets because they work closely with employees, early-stage investors, and venture capitalists, which are crucial to the company's pre-IPO growth. Investing in pre-IPO shares for Kraken could open the door for additional ROIs if the company's valuation is less than when its IPO launches. It's common for company valuations to increase following an IPO. As such, it makes sense to add pre-IPO shares to your portfolio before the firm announces plans to go public. Secondary marketplaces have many requirements. Here are some concerns you should be made aware of: Eligibility : Notably, this approach requires you to be an accredited investor, meaning you will have to show at least $1M in liquid assets to qualify. Liquidity : Pre-IPO shares can't be traded like regular shares. They often include some lockup restrictions that prevent you from trading them before the IPO. Some firms have permanent “no sell” clauses that prevent any transfer of the shares following your investment. Linqto is a reputable investment platform that connects accredited investors with pre-IPO shareholders in a secure manner. The network streamlines pre-IPO investing via an easy-to-navigate interface that provides access to all relevant data at a glance. Accredited investors seeking pre-IPO shares in Kraken should consider Linqto. Visit Linqto → 2. Private Equity Firms Private equity firms gain access to pre-IPO shares during investment rounds. They then offer these shares to high-net-worth accredited investors with a commission. Notably, private equity firms are known to have extra stipulations, including blocking the sale of shares for years in some cases. 3. Employee Equity Sales Many consider employee equity sales as the best way to acquire pre-IPO shares in Kraken. This method of acquiring pre-IPO shares requires you to connect with former employees. It's common for companies to issue shares as part of an incentive package. Notably, this profit-sharing method has become more popular, leading to more pre-IPO share opportunities for investors. Private Transactions: there are a lot of hoops you will need to jump through to complete a private pre-IPO transaction, including creating specific legal agreements, conducting valuations, and setting in place any limitations on the transfer of the asset. Brokerage : Brokers will take a lot of the confusion out of the pre-IPO process. These professionals can guide you through each step, ensuring full compliance and avoiding common errors untrained professionals make. There are several risks that you should consider before jumping into the pre-IPO shares investment arena. Here are the top concerns: Liquidity Risk If you are looking for an asset that you can sell right away, pre-IPO shares are not the best option. These investments can include sales and transfer clauses that prevent the transfer of the asset until certain criteria, such as the IPO's completion. It's even common for pre-IPO shares to require you to wait years before gaining the ability to sell your assets. Regulatory Risk of Investing in Kraken Pre-IPO Shares The blockchain market has seen considerable scrutiny from regulators and lawmakers. While the technology is far better understood than in its early days, there are still many lawmakers who see it as a threat to the traditional financial system. As such, you need to always consider how new regulations could affect the value of your pre-IPO shares. Market Risk Purchasing pre-IPO shares in Kraken means that you stand behind the project and its team. The company has secured a reputation for excellence and has previously expressed a desire to go public. However, no concrete data has been provided yet. As such, it's vital to understand that the blockchain market is an active space that experiences strong fluctuations that could result in a different share value between now and any future IPO launch. Valuation of Kraken and Future IPO Kraken earned a valuation of $10B in 2023. The company secured this valuation due to its regulatory-friendly approach, high-security standards, and easy-to-navigate mobile app that includes a plethora of DeFi options. All of these factors have helped Kraken become a go-to exchange for business and personal users. In June 2024, it was reported in Bloomberg that Kraken wanted to secure +100M in funding before it would announce an IPO date, which many expect to be in 2025. If Kraken did move forward with its plans to secure another $100M and then host an IPO, the investor community would support the maneuver. Kraken is a top-performing CEX in a very competitive marketplace. The company has consistently ranked among the top 10 in this sector for a decade, cementing its position as a secure and reliable trading option for business, governments, and personal use. Its IPO would reflect its dominant position and open the door for future growth. Investing in Pre-IPO Kraken Stocks Conclusion Those seeking to invest in pre-IPO shares of Kraken could gain upside exposure. Kraken's ecosystem spans the digital asset industry including support for institutional investors, NFT collectors, crypto traders, and DeFi users. This flexibility, coupled with its strong partnerships, and regulatory certifications, make Kraken a smart addition to most people's portfolios. Before investing in pre-IPO shares of Kraken, you must conduct an in-depth financial analysis of the exchange. Investing in pre-IPO shares carries extra risks that don't exist in a traditional IPO investment scenario, such as lockup periods. Always consult a financial expert before making any pre-IPO stock purchases to ensure that you remain within your risk appetite. For traders who have done their homework and are ready to secure Kraken Pre-IPO shares, there is a lot of upside potential here. Learn about Other Pre-IPO Opportunities Now Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Pre-IPO shares are typically available only to accredited investors and carry significant risk. Always perform thorough due diligence and consult a financial advisor or legal expert before making investment decisions.

Fresno State QB Mikey Keene transferring to MichiganNoneLucknow, Nov 24 (PTI) Electoral politics is hard as the momentum shifts ever so quickly, more so in a politically sensitive state like Uttar Pradesh, where the results of the byelections in nine assembly seats have repositioned the ruling BJP in the pole position after a blip in the June 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Having put in the hard yards with multiple rallies across all nine by-poll seats and assigning himself the responsibility of a difficult seat like Katehari in Ambedkarnagar that BJP won after three decades, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's stock has skyrocketed to the days when the BJP won a consecutive term in UP in 2022. Adityanath literally set the narrative for the bypolls in August itself with slogans like 'batenge toh katenge (divided we perish)' that were cleverly tailored to reinforce the Hindu unity pitch and resonated right through the mini polls. "For a long time, Samajwadi Party's politics revolved around its 'MY' factor that was meant to denote a particular community and caste. The BJP has changed that with a new 'MY' approach. This 'MY' factor means Modi-Yogi and these two leaders are changing the political discourse with their development narrative, and this by-poll again showed the effectiveness of Yogi ji," UP BJP spokesman Manish Shukla told PTI. The party won six seats out of nine while ally RLD got one. Adityanath's 'batoge toh katoge' slogan made a huge impression was evident in the BJP’s win in the Muslim-majority Kundarki seat in Moradabad. Here, the party had not won in three decades but this time voters consolidated behind BJP’s Ramveer Singh, the lone Hindu among 11 Muslims in the fray. “The SP took Muslims for granted and we went about telling the voters about SP leaders’ claim that virtually anyone on their party’s symbol would win. "Eventually they realised that despite being unfairly demonised by our opponents, only BJP could get them out of the vote bank trap and of course our leadership helped,” Ramveer said. The importance of Kundarki win was such that it even found a mention in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech at the BJP office in Delhi after the BJP-led-NDA’s spectacular win in Maharashtra on Saturday evening. “What it means is that while BJP vote bank consolidated, the SP’s trusted Muslim vote bank that had voted for the party in big numbers both in 2022 UP polls as well as in 2024 Lok Sabha polls disintegrated. Brand Yogi has found a boost while Akhilesh Yadav has some work to do,” a senior BJP leader told PTI. Even in its family bastion of Karhal seat in Mainpuri, which SP chief Akhilesh Yadav had himself won by an impressive margin of around 67000 votes in 2002 UP polls, the SP’s vote bank dipped as party candidate and Akhilesh’s nephew Tej Pratap Yadav won against Anujesh Yadav, also a distant relative of Akhilesh, by about 14000 votes. The SP had alleged massive irregularities in voting and on its complaint the EC had suspended seven police officials in UP. In Sishamau, Kanpur, the only other seat the SP won in the bypolls, the margin was even lesser – about 8000 odd – making it evident the main opposition party had lost the momentum gained after 2024 Lok Sabha poll results. Back then the SP had won 37 seats against BJP’s 33 in UP but the momentum, it appears, has quickly swung back in BJP’s favour. Meerapur assembly seat in Muzaffarnagar in west UP was another seat that had a sizeable Muslim presence. RLD had won the seat in 2022 UP polls when it was in alliance with SP, and has succeeded in retaining it after joining hands with the BJP. "The RLD has a dedicated vote bank comprising all sections of society and people's belief in our leader Jayant Chaudhary showed again with a landslide win," RLD leader Rohit Agarwal told PTI. The Congress, which announced support for SP, didn’t contest the polls and though senior leaders on both sides said “all is well” with the alliance, at the local level discordant notes were heard. These concerns primarily revolved around a lack of ground-level coordination; defeating the very purpose of coordination committees that were set up on October 25 to ensure that. “There is nothing wrong with the alliance. The Congress helped us. The reason for the reverses was mainly due to rampant and blatant misuse of official machinery and the people would make BJP realise this in 2027 UP polls when SP comes to power,” Samajwadi Party’s national secretary Arvind Singh ‘Gope’ told PTI. The BSP, led by four-time former UP chief minister Mayawati, suffered maximum embarrassment as its candidate badly lost the polls, opening the party again to the charge of being a ‘vote katva (vote cutter)’. On Sunday Mayawati after alleging irregularities declared that her party won’t contest any more bypolls – an announcement that meant little in the face of yet another political loss and party leadership’s inability to arrest the slide. “The BJP contested the polls as one unit unlike the opposition that was besieged with internal conflicts," Shukla said. “What can one say about BSP? We all know that it has been the ‘B’ team of BJP and this election too proved that as it contested the election not to win but to dent the chances of the INDIA bloc,” Congress secretary Shahnawaz Alam said. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)

Congress to launch nationwide protests against Amit Shah’s remarks on Ambedkar

For the best experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser settings. Trade has been a cornerstone of human civilisation, beginning with the ancient barter system and evolving into today’s complex international agreements. In the earliest days, barter trade, a system where people directly exchanged goods without a standard currency, was essential for survival, yet it had limitations. Disparities in value, seasonal shortages, and the challenge of matching each other’s needs fairly, often led to conflicts and stalled exchanges. Such misalignments in wants and resources made transactions cumbersome and hindered economic growth. Over time, these inefficiencies drove societies to adopt currency, which streamlined trade and gave value a more universal measure. However, as trade grew beyond local communities and regions, new challenges arose, demanding structure and predictability in cross-border exchanges. This paved the way for trade agreements, which have become the foundation of international commerce today. Designed to reduce barriers like tariffs and quotas, these agreements enable smoother, fairer exchanges between nations, fostering both bilateral and multilateral relationships. Where barter was once limited to immediate needs and resources, modern trade agreements now support an interconnected global economy, encouraging growth, innovation, and mutual prosperity. One such agreement that has been pivotal in shaping trade dynamics is the Kenya-EU economic partnership agreement (EPA) that is designed to create a free trade area between the EU and Kenya. Its primary objectives include promoting sustainable development, ensuring economic stability, and enhancing trade. By eliminating tariffs and quotas on goods, the EPA seeks to provide Kenyan products with greater access to EU markets by enhancing export opportunities. The goals of the EPA extend beyond mere tariff reductions; they also aim to enhance economic cooperation and address various trade-related issues such as supply-side constraints including compliance with Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) standards and enhancing capacity to implement trade facilitation measures. For Kenya, this means not only the potential for increased exports but also the ability to attract foreign investment, which is crucial for economic growth. Local manufacturers can plug into this framework by leveraging the advantages offered through the EPA, such as accessing European markets without facing prohibitive tariffs. Trade between Kenya and the EU has not been entirely balanced. According to International Trade Centre (ITC), Kenya Exported products worth $1.1 billion to the EU while importing $1.7 billion, representing a slight trade imbalance of $0.6 billion in favour of EU in 2022. To scale up trade and bridge this imbalance, Kenyan industries must focus on manufacturing high-quality value – added products, moving beyond the agriculturally based products and raw materials. The EU market, with its diverse consumer base, presents opportunities for Kenyan products, including textiles, processed foods, and manufactured goods. By investing in capacity building and technology, local manufacturers can create high-quality products that meet EU standards. As Kenya awaits the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act by the US, there is an opportunity to further enhance our trade relations with the EU. By aligning its manufacturing strategies with the requirements of EU, Kenya can ensure that its products meet the necessary quality and regulatory standards, thus enhancing its competitiveness on the global stage. However, the journey towards seamless trading between Kenya and the EU is not without its challenges. A myriad of issues continue to hinder trade at national level, including competitiveness, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of access to finance for local manufacturers. To foster a conducive trading environment, both governments must engage in dialogue to address these barriers. Initiatives that simplify customs procedures, enhance transport networks, and financial support to local manufacturers will be crucial in bolstering trade for both parties. - The writer is the Acting CEO, Kenya Association of Manufacturers Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletter

A popular video game developer has decided to pull content featuring Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor from sale, after a woman who said he raped her won a civil claim for damages against him. Nikita Hand, who accused the sportsman of raping her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018, won her claim against him for damages in a civil case at the High Court in the Irish capital. The jury delivered its verdict on Friday. The total amount of damages awarded to Hand by the jury was 248,603.60 euros (£206,714.31). Mr McGregor made no comment as he left court but later posted on social media that he intends to appeal. The Irish athlete has featured in multiple video games, including voice-acting a character bearing his likeness in additional downloadable content in the Hitman series. Mr McGregor’s character featured as a target for the player-controlled assassin in the game. IO Interactive, the Danish developer and publisher of Hitman, said in a statement: “In light of the recent court ruling regarding Conor McGregor, IO Interactive has made the decision to cease its collaboration with the athlete, effective immediately. “We take this matter very seriously and cannot ignore its implications. “Consequently, we will begin removing all content featuring Mr McGregor from our storefronts starting today.” Mr McGregor had faced an accusation that he “brutally raped and battered” Ms Hand at a hotel in south Dublin in December 2018. The Irish sports star previously told the court he had consensual sex with Ms Hand in a penthouse at the Beacon Hotel. Ms Hand was taken in an ambulance to the Rotunda Hospital the following day where she was assessed in the sexual assault treatment unit. A paramedic who examined Ms Hand the day after the assault had told the court she had not seen “someone so bruised” in a long time.Packham resigns as RSPCA president after animal cruelty claims at approved farms

Searing guitar riffs, primal drums, and electronic textures collide with impassioned vocals to create a chaotic yet precise sonic storm that blurs the lines between human aggression and mechanical force. That’s industrial rock, and for fans of German band KMFDM, it is the sweet spot between the freedom to express individuality and rebelling against a system of political corruption and injustice. But in 1999, when the band’s lyrics were cited by the perpetrators of the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado, which resulted in 13 deaths, their message of resistance was suddenly eclipsed by the violence they had long condemned. In January, a song by the band was featured in a TikTok video posted moments before a 17-year-old unleashed gunfire at Iowa’s Perry High School, killing two and wounding others. And now, the band has once again been thrust into the spotlight by photos of 15-year-old freshman Natalie Rupnow , who on Monday killed a teacher and student at her private school in Madison, Wisconsin. The images show her wearing a black KMFDM band shirt while at a shooting range. Band says music stands against violence KMFDM issued a statement condemning the Columbine massacre, expressing sympathy for the victims and explaining its music was intended to stand against violence. “KMFDM are an art form — not a political party. From the beginning our music has been a statement against war, oppression, fascism and violence against others,” read the statement at the time. KMFDM told CNN on Saturday it has been “distressing” to be in a similar situation again, after “how unfairly maligned KMFDM was by the media during Columbine, in what was tantamount to a witch hunt.” “We stand by these words as strongly now as we did back then,” KMFDM said in its statement. “We don’t believe Natalie Rupnow wore a KMFDM T-shirt because she’s necessarily a fan of the band, but instead because she glorified the Columbine shooters. Sadly, there’s a subculture of sick individuals who do have an obscure fascination with the Columbine massacre, and our band’s acronym will forever be associated with it.” KMFDM said the concern should not be its music but the ubiquitous, with a persistent rise in gun-related deaths and mass shootings that have killed hundreds of children and school staff in classrooms. “In a culture that is obsessed with guns, people will always try and blame someone or something else for these tragic events, rather than the abundant and easy access to firearms,” KMFDM said. The history of industrial rock The first decade of industrial music was recognized as being “very experimental and very hard to listen to,” said industrial music expert Alexander Reed. It started with combining noise samples – ranging from vacuum cleaners, power tools or banging on metal – with drum beats and turning them into songs. “It was very interested in turning noise into music and music into noise. That’s tied into their idea of flipping notions of the powerless versus the empowered, or good versus evil,” Reed, a professor of music at Ithaca College, told CNN. Industrial music originated in the 1970s in northern England, Germany, and, to some extent, San Francisco before spreading all over the world. Around the mid-1980s, Reed says, industrial musicians began incorporating influences from dance music and rock ‘n’ roll, leading to KMFDM’s rise. The band was founded in 1984 as a performance art project. KMFDM is its original German name, which is intentionally grammatically absurd and stands for “Kein Mehrheit Für Die Mitleid,” translated and interpreted as “No pity for the majority.” The name, KMFDM told CNN, was inspired by Dadaism, the early 20th century antiestablishment art movement which rejected nationalism and war. KMFDM surged to success in the late ’80s and early ’90s, alongside fellow industrial pioneers Nine Inch Nails and Ministry, who helped bring the genre into the mainstream. Themes of dominance and military violence come up all over the history of both industrial and electronic music. They are expressed through the melodic differences between electronic instruments and acoustic rock, Clara Latham, an assistant professor of music technology at The New School in New York City told CNN. Electronic instruments, like drum machines, synthesizers, and keyboards, have a machine precision that lacks the nuance that a drummer or guitar player conveys with fluctuations in tempo. When these elements collide, Latham says, they create a cacophony of melodic chaos. “The sound gets associated with a kind of oppressive quality in comparison, and that became part of the industrial aesthetic,” Latham said. “Compare a crazy guitar solo where the guitar sounds like it has a mind of its own, with an electronic artist at a console turning knobs – it has a totally different connotation.” The combination of the aesthetic sound differences projects the anti-violence messages behind the music: “There is a very, very clear anti-authority, anti-capitalism, anti-establishment political message that’s trying to be shouted,” Latham said. “One of the reasons why they have an enduring sort of legacy among young people is they really make people feel listened to,” Reed said. “They stand for the side of the oppressed, so their politics and their music seem to say, ‘Hey, if you are marginalized, if you are pushed to the side, we will listen to you.’ And some of that sort of earnest fist pumping power that comes through their rock influences is acting as a way to empower their listeners.” KMFDM has released 24 studio albums and related projects and continues to release music. The band had a 40th anniversary tour around the world in October. “KMFDM’s fans are incredibly dedicated, outspoken and loyal, without them, it would be unbearable to continue to exist through times like these,” KMFDM said. Underlying theme of school shootings is gun violence, not music, experts say It is unclear if Rupnow was inspired by the Columbine shooters or if her interest in KMFDM stemmed from Columbine shooter Eric Harris wearing the band’s shirt and citing its lyrics. But whether an individual has a particular musical preference likely has no effect on their decisions to carry out violence, Indre Viskontas, neuroscientist and associate professor of psychology at the University of San Francisco, told CNN. “When people are in a state of anger or very heightened emotions, they often listen to music to help them regulate their emotions, to blow off steam, get that anger out in a healthy way, so that they don’t act aggressively, or ways in which they wouldn’t want to,” Viskontas said. “A person who is going to go into a school and murder children has a lot of issues. That is not healthy behavior, so there’s obviously a lot of failures that have led up to that particular behavior, but I don’t see any evidence that their particular style of music would lead to or enhance that behavior.” Reed, who wrote the book “Assimilate: A Critical History of Industrial Music,” points to examples of how people misinterpret music to fit their own ideas. “People are going to mishear things. Paul Ryan thought that Rage Against the Machine was a right-wing band, and they clapped back saying ‘You are the machine against whom we rage,’” Reed said. One alt-right founder and white nationalist “claimed Depeche Mode is the official band of the alt right when they had been wearing literal Karl Marx beards unironically in their previous video.” It may also be likely that the Columbine shooters misinterpreted the messages in KMFDM’s music, Reed said, since the band consistently denounces violence and uses lyrics that critique social and political issues. “KMFDM was one of a bunch of bands that they listened to and music was only one of a bunch of things that they were into, a lot of which was a lot less savory,” Reed said. “But the most important thing that Columbine kids were into were guns.” The past year has continued to see a rising number of school shootings and a lack of legislation to curb gun violence . There have been at least 83 school shootings in the US so far this year as of December 16, according to CNN’s analysis of events reported by the Gun Violence Archive, Education Week and Everytown for Gun Safety. “After every school shooting, we outsource our conversations, difficult decisions, policies, and our sense of societal guilt to symbols, so we can point to them and say, ‘Oh, well, they listen to this rock band’ and we no longer have to have a conversation about gun control, or the degree to which we are raising our adolescents through screens and algorithms that veer their screens toward extremist politics,” Reed said. “We are missing the point – that the problem is not the music, it’s the guns.”Amber Heard criticises social media in response to Blake Lively complaint