I gave up on streaming music when I searched for the FFIX OST on Spotify and didn't get a result back. I'm sure it works for most people, but half my shit is videogame soundtracks, 1/3 is hiphop mixtape, and the rest is a mix of Bandcamp albums and singles. I.e. none of that shit is on Spotify, Apple Music, etc. etc. etc. I do use Songza for "mood-based playlists" though, since those are my favorite when I'm working.
If it isn't my shit when I'm working, it's somafm. This is the advantage Google Music has - it can build me a playlist out of music I own... and unlike iTunes, it doesn't give me that "I can't figure out your music because it isn't Lady GaGa" shit. I have yet to find a song so obscure that Google doesn't know what to do with it, while I'd say iTunes Genius fails out three quarters of the time.
Genius has always been trash for me too. On the other hand google gave me this Dilla produced playlist: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/wst/st/69a08df1-20ca-3751-b86a-7a8ccf76e1b0 This is the kind of stuff Google really does great and Apple etc sucks at. "Oh you like xyz? Here is xyz + ikj" Apple spotify and others seem to be more on board with the "Oh you like xyz? How about some Taylor Swift? or $OTHER ARTIST WERE PUSHING THIS MONTH" Like you said those ambient tracks are great too. I dislike that I need to use Chrome for google music though (because you have to use Flash with firefox for some god forsaken reason. )
Um. Can we get a thread started about video game soundtracks? I love SIM City and Final Fantasy for getting work done. Please share your favs.