Total Music was initially conceived as a subscription service which would offer downloads of DRM-laden audio files to consumers.
This plan was scrapped when an anti-trust inquiry by the United States Department of Justice in early 2008 expressed concern that the major record companies were colluding to provide an unfair advantage to Total Music.
To provide a back end, Total Music acquired Ruckus Network, and EMI was brought on to add to Universal and Sony BMG's catalog, but Warner Music Group, the remaining major label, did not want to participate.
More importantly, Total Music was unable to get Facebook to agree to hand over user data and ad revenue.
In its final months, the company also experimented with providing a streaming service widget for websites and blogs.