> here is a strong incentive to only play music that is "owned" by labels and not directly by artists and performers.

Spotify has exactly zero music "directly by artists and performers". Even indie artists have to go through distributors and labels. Because without "owners" that own 60-80% of all world music, and that Spotify pays 70% of revenue to there would be no Spotify (or any music streaming service).

> Even indie artists have to go through distributors and labels.

Is it impossible for an artist to own their own label?

> or any music streaming service

That doesn't seem to follow from any part of your argument.

> That doesn't seem to follow from any part of your argument.

What happens when the Big Four pull their content from your platform because you started bypassing them?

You don't need to hand over any ownership or % of earnings if you self-publish and pay a distributor to put your album on the streaming platforms.

You don't many do. And, again, Spotify doesn't pay money to artists directly, but to rights holders and distributors.