diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 9aab16d..64361d3 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -37,5 +37,6 @@ MAX_PARALLEL_DOWNLOADS=2
 # external services (all optional — backend degrades gracefully if unset)
 # ML_SERVICE_URL=http://ml:9000
 # ACOUSTID_API_KEY=
-MUSICBRAINZ_USER_AGENT=mcma-backend/0.1.0 ( https://github.com/your/repo )
+# Sent to MusicBrainz/AcoustID as part of the User-Agent (MCMA/<version> ( <email> )).
+# MUSICBRAINZ_OWNER_EMAIL=you@example.com
 # YOUTUBE_COOKIES_PATH=/data/cookies.txt
diff --git a/app/core/config.py b/app/core/config.py
index 3a1d675..729ae45 100644
--- a/app/core/config.py
+++ b/app/core/config.py
@@ -5,12 +5,25 @@ development). Access the cached singleton via :func:`get_settings`.
 """
 
 from functools import lru_cache
+from importlib.metadata import PackageNotFoundError, version
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Literal
 
 from pydantic import Field, SecretStr, field_validator
 from pydantic_settings import BaseSettings, SettingsConfigDict
 
+# App identity for outbound API calls (e.g. the MusicBrainz/AcoustID
+# User-Agent). Name is fixed; version comes from the installed package.
+APP_NAME = "MCMA"
+_PROJECT_URL = "https://git.ollyhearn.ru/olly/mcma-backend"
+
+
+def app_version() -> str:
+    try:
+        return version("mcma-backend")
+    except PackageNotFoundError:
+        return "0.0.0"
+
 
 class Settings(BaseSettings):
     model_config = SettingsConfigDict(
@@ -77,7 +90,12 @@ class Settings(BaseSettings):
     ml_service_url: str | None = None
     acoustid_api_key: SecretStr | None = None
     acoustid_api_url: str = "https://api.acoustid.org/v2/lookup"
-    musicbrainz_user_agent: str = "mcma-backend/0.1.0 ( https://github.com/your/repo )"
+    # MusicBrainz/AcoustID require a meaningful User-Agent identifying the
+    # application and a way to contact its maintainer (see
+    # https://musicbrainz.org/doc/XML_Web_Service/Rate_Limiting). Self-hosted
+    # deployments should set their own contact email; see
+    # ``musicbrainz_user_agent`` below for how it's used.
+    musicbrainz_owner_email: str | None = None
     youtube_cookies_path: Path | None = None
 
     # -- enrichment -------------------------------------------------------
@@ -96,6 +114,16 @@ class Settings(BaseSettings):
     def is_prod(self) -> bool:
         return self.environment == "prod"
 
+    @property
+    def musicbrainz_user_agent(self) -> str:
+        """User-Agent sent to MusicBrainz/AcoustID: ``MCMA/<version> ( <contact> )``.
+
+        Falls back to the project URL if the deployment hasn't set
+        ``musicbrainz_owner_email``.
+        """
+        contact = self.musicbrainz_owner_email or _PROJECT_URL
+        return f"{APP_NAME}/{app_version()} ( {contact} )"
+
 
 @lru_cache
 def get_settings() -> Settings:
diff --git a/app/main.py b/app/main.py
index 9875ccf..a796230 100644
--- a/app/main.py
+++ b/app/main.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ from app.api.health import router as health_router
 from app.api.middleware import CorrelationIdMiddleware
 from app.api.rest import subsonic_router
 from app.api.v1 import api_v1_router
-from app.core.config import get_settings
+from app.core.config import app_version, get_settings
 from app.core.logging import configure_logging, get_logger
 from app.infrastructure.cache import close_redis
 from app.infrastructure.db import dispose_engine
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ def create_app() -> FastAPI:
 
     app = FastAPI(
         title="mcma-backend",
-        version="0.1.0",
+        version=app_version(),
         summary="Self-hosted, offline-first music service.",
         lifespan=lifespan,
     )