I think most people are misunderstanding the opening post.

Current environment I think is a broader term than what most people are taking it as.  I think it works for most people if they take into consideration their location on a global scale.  Like obviously people in japan, and people in india, and people in eqypt, and people in america will tend to listen to different music.  The problem with this idea is that because the internet and shit, people are exposed to all kinds of world cultures from an earlier age.  So I really think the only one out of the three that matters in #2, which leads to the devolpment of #3

Your upbringing is basically everything you've experienced in the past which, like it or not determines your musical tastes.  It's not just your parents or past friends, it's all that you've been exposed to, and also the context under which you were exposed to those musics.  Like if you were forced to listen to music often as a child, especially when you might've not wanted to listen to it, I think it's fair to say you won't like that music.  Also if someone you really disrespect likes a certain type of music, your disrespect for them might carry over to the music, vice versa.  This eventually forms your taste or whatever.  I think the thing that alot of people don't realize is how many influences there at all times, not just your parents and friends, but the media (tv, internets eteteteccece), and how people around you perceive the media, how people you admire perceive it, etc.

But most people would say, "hey, I just like what sounds good."  I think what the opening post is trying to ask is, WHY do you think certain things sound good?  And if you have other reasons for liking music (political, philosophical etc.), why do you like music for those reasons?  What is the cause of each of our personal taste?

fuck I almost started writing an essay or something...

i originally listened to classic rock, thanks to my classmates in 6th grade and my parents growing up. then i went to my first show. i was sold. saw a bunch of bands i'd never heard of before, local acts, and fell in love with my local scene. from there, the bands led me into varied genres. i also picked up a lot of mainstream hiphop and pop.