The "periphery" refers to the impact of the musical ______ in shaping mainstream popular music taste.

The concept of the "periphery" in shaping mainstream popular music taste emphasizes the role of marginal musical influences within the broader context of a music scene. By focusing on the margins, the correct answer highlights how lesser-known or underground styles, genres, and practices can significantly impact and inform the tastes and preferences of the wider mainstream audience. This influence can occur as these peripheral elements introduce new sounds, ideas, or cultural references that subsequently gain popularity and inspire mainstream artists.

Textures, styles, and genres, while related to music, do not encapsulate the idea of influence from the less mainstream segments as effectively as the margins do. The margins encompass a broader array of creative expressions that exist outside the mainstream, which can bring fresh perspectives and innovation, ultimately shaping the evolution of popular music taste over time.