So Apple hacked the Spotify app to pop up a message announcing the new privacy policy? On iOS, Android, or both? Either way, that's quite an extraordinary claim.

I find the idea that Spotify made the change itself and that tech journalists routinely check for changes in privacy policies searching for something to write about much more plausible.

So, please give some evidence that this is what happened.

Think you misunderstood that aspect of jamesblonde's comment. He's suggesting the journalist is pushing Apple's PR for them. It does happen, journalists often use content PR firms send them. I have no idea if it happened in this case.