The AppStore has a standard process that applies to every developer. You submit your new app build or changed build with the associated metadata via AppStore Connect. AppStore Connect shows you the status of your submission from Submitted, to Waiting for Review, to In Review, to Accepted, to Waiting for Export Compliance, to Pending Developer Release, to Processing for Distribution, to Pending Apple Release, to Ready for Distribution or other standard process stages.
Apple does not acknowledge receipt for anyone nor do they reach out except when there is a rejection (which is accompanied with explanation of why the app is rejected and pointers to relevant app review guidelines). The developer is allowed to respond within the system to either explain if and why they believe the reviewer made a mistake or to ask for additional information. It is a very impersonal process as that is what’s required to operate at the scale that the AppStore operates at (~2M apps, almost 1M developers/publishers).
App review time varies from app to app and change to change depending on complexity and volume of AppStore activity. My company’s initial app approvals average than a week and app changes average 1-3 days. We always know exactly where an app is in the entire process. I am certain that Spotify also knows where its submission is despite its claim that Apple hasn’t acknowledged its submission — because that’s how the system works. I suspect that Spotify’s review process will also take longer than usual because of (a) increased volume of app changes due to EU DMA requirements, and (b) Spotify‘s history of deceptive and malicious behavior which compels Apple to ensure that the submission is compliant.
As someone who works with Apple’s AppStore every day for my business and in support of my customers businesses, I am grateful for the AppStore and Apple‘s development platform and ecosystem. Sure we have had rejections and most of the time, the rejection motivated changes that improved user experience. In the rare occasion where reviewers were wrong we received quick approval after pointing out the errors or oversight respectfully. This is the experience of all the Apple developers I personally know. The contrarians seem to be large businesses with egotistical leaders (Spotify, Epic, 37 Signals, etc.) trying to circumvent the AppStore guidelines for personal gain and stretching the truth to gen up public outrage to assist their efforts.
Net-net: As a development professional, it is indeed a privilege to have such a well-thought-out and supportive (though imperfect) platform to build a business on and to help other businesses improve their operations with reliable, high-quality software solutions. It is tragic to watch Apple getting smeared in this process by bad actors.