> The problem here is that Apple have a competing service that doesn't have to pay the money.

On the contrary, Apple does pay the money... to the artists. Which is something that Spotify doesn't do as much.

https://virpp.com/hello/music-streaming-payouts-comparison-a...

Strangely, despite this rather obvious market power (monopsony) that Spotify has in negotiating below-market rates with their suppliers, the EC has not seen fit to label them as a "gatekeeper".

I'm sure it has nothing whatever to do with having their headquarters in Sweden.