What determines your taste in music?
Daniel Lopez
Updated on February 23, 2026
Our musical tastes are shaped by a number of external factors — exposure, peer and family influence, the activities we listen to music during — as well as internal preferences we have for rhythm, harmony, timbres, structure or lyrics.
Is your taste in music genetic?
Musical preferences seem to be mainly shaped by a person's cultural upbringing and experiences rather than biological factors, according to a study published on 13 July in Nature1.Does your taste in music say you?
Studies have shown a link between music preferences and a person's propensity to empathize with others. Researchers have also found a connection between music taste and personality traits.How do you develop the taste in music?
How to Have a Diverse Taste in Music
- 1 Use a music streaming app.
- 2 Look for music that's similar to what you know you like.
- 3 Create playlists to make your streaming app suggest new music.
- 4 Make radio stations in your app to find fresh songs.
- 5 Browse music by genre to find new artists.