Report: Spotify Might Launch This Week, Will Be Invite Only

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Puh-leeze. Google+ was so last week. You better start prepping to get on the invite train for the next big thing–-specifically, for Spotify’s U.S. launch.

(MORE: Big in Europe, Streaming Music Service ‘Spotify’ to Hit the U.S.)

Pull your head out of organizing your Circles or trying to snag an invite, because big European music streaming service Spotify is finally coming to American shores. You know, ‘cause we’ve been waiting since 2008. But don’t think they’re gonna give you the golden key after all this time: the initial launch will apparently be invite only.

Mashable reports that the Spotify launch has been pegged for this week. Supposedly, it’ll be a slow launch, and the service will give pre-existing members and subscribers the discretion to invite who they so please.

Is Spotify ready to take on the likes of services such as Pandora, which already have an established presence? The European service is already quite popular back home on The Continent, with approximately 10 million users spread throughout seven countries.

(MORE: Hands-on with Spotify: Promising, with Let-Downs)

Regardless, it sounds like they’ve been in the middle of negotiating with UMG, EMI, Sony and Warner Music, so they’re definitely making an effort to bring the big boys on board. We’ve already done a test drive of the U.K. version, but things could still change before an actual U.S. launch.

I think it’s time to find my next new European best friend.

Erica Ho is a reporter at TIME. Find her on Twitter at @ericamho and Google+. You can also continue the discussion on TIME’s Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME.