diff --git a/backend/models.py b/backend/models.py
index 5cba7c0..79afb10 100644
--- a/backend/models.py
+++ b/backend/models.py
@@ -54,6 +54,23 @@ class EntityTag(SQLModel, table=True):
 
 # --- Core Entities ---
 
+class VerticalScene(SQLModel, table=True):
+    """Join table linking verticals to scenes (many-to-many)"""
+    vertical_id: int = Field(foreign_key="vertical.id", primary_key=True)
+    scene_id: int = Field(foreign_key="scene.id", primary_key=True)
+
+
+class Scene(SQLModel, table=True):
+    """Genre/scene categorization for bands (e.g., 'Jam', 'Bluegrass', 'Dead Family')"""
+    id: Optional[int] = Field(default=None, primary_key=True)
+    name: str = Field(unique=True, index=True)
+    slug: str = Field(unique=True, index=True)
+    description: Optional[str] = Field(default=None)
+    
+    # Relationships
+    verticals: List["Vertical"] = Relationship(back_populates="scenes", link_model=VerticalScene)
+
+
 class Vertical(SQLModel, table=True):
     """Represents a Fandom Vertical (e.g., 'Phish', 'Goose', 'Star Wars')"""
     id: Optional[int] = Field(default=None, primary_key=True)
@@ -64,8 +81,17 @@ class Vertical(SQLModel, table=True):
     # Link to primary artist/band for this vertical
     primary_artist_id: Optional[int] = Field(default=None, foreign_key="artist.id")
     
+    # Setlist.fm integration for universal import
+    setlistfm_mbid: Optional[str] = Field(default=None, description="MusicBrainz ID for Setlist.fm")
+    
+    # Admin/status fields
+    is_active: bool = Field(default=True, description="Show in band selector")
+    is_featured: bool = Field(default=False, description="Highlight in discovery")
+    
+    # Relationships
     shows: List["Show"] = Relationship(back_populates="vertical")
     songs: List["Song"] = Relationship(back_populates="vertical")
+    scenes: List["Scene"] = Relationship(back_populates="verticals", link_model=VerticalScene)
 
 class Venue(SQLModel, table=True):
     id: Optional[int] = Field(default=None, primary_key=True)
diff --git a/backend/seed_scenes.py b/backend/seed_scenes.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..438efab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/seed_scenes.py
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+"""Seed script to create initial scenes and assign bands to them"""
+
+from sqlmodel import Session, select
+from database import engine
+from models import Scene, Vertical, VerticalScene
+
+
+# Scene definitions
+SCENES = [
+    {"name": "Jam", "slug": "jam", "description": "Improvisational rock bands with extended jams"},
+    {"name": "Bluegrass", "slug": "bluegrass", "description": "Progressive and traditional bluegrass"},
+    {"name": "Dead Family", "slug": "dead-family", "description": "Grateful Dead and related projects"},
+    {"name": "Funk", "slug": "funk", "description": "Funk, soul, and groove-oriented bands"},
+]
+
+# Band -> Scene assignments
+BAND_SCENES = {
+    "goose": ["jam"],
+    "phish": ["jam"],
+    "grateful-dead": ["jam", "dead-family"],
+    "dead-and-company": ["jam", "dead-family"],
+    "billy-strings": ["bluegrass", "jam"],
+    # Expansion Wave 1
+    "pigeons-playing-ping-pong": ["jam", "funk"],
+    "eggy": ["jam"],
+    "dogs-in-a-pile": ["jam"],
+    "greensky-bluegrass": ["bluegrass", "jam"],
+    "daniel-donato": ["jam"],
+    # Expansion Wave 2
+    "umphreys-mcgee": ["jam"],
+    "moe": ["jam"],
+    "widespread-panic": ["jam"],
+    "sturgill-simpson": ["bluegrass"],
+    "slightly-stoopid": ["jam", "funk"],
+}
+
+
+def seed_scenes():
+    """Create scenes if they don't exist"""
+    print("Seeding scenes...")
+    
+    with Session(engine) as session:
+        for scene_data in SCENES:
+            existing = session.exec(
+                select(Scene).where(Scene.slug == scene_data["slug"])
+            ).first()
+            
+            if not existing:
+                scene = Scene(**scene_data)
+                session.add(scene)
+                print(f"  Created scene: {scene_data['name']}")
+            else:
+                print(f"  Scene exists: {scene_data['name']}")
+        
+        session.commit()
+        print("Scenes seeded.")
+
+
+def assign_bands_to_scenes():
+    """Assign existing bands to their scenes"""
+    print("\nAssigning bands to scenes...")
+    
+    with Session(engine) as session:
+        for band_slug, scene_slugs in BAND_SCENES.items():
+            vertical = session.exec(
+                select(Vertical).where(Vertical.slug == band_slug)
+            ).first()
+            
+            if not vertical:
+                continue
+            
+            for scene_slug in scene_slugs:
+                scene = session.exec(
+                    select(Scene).where(Scene.slug == scene_slug)
+                ).first()
+                
+                if not scene:
+                    continue
+                
+                # Check if assignment exists
+                existing = session.exec(
+                    select(VerticalScene)
+                    .where(VerticalScene.vertical_id == vertical.id)
+                    .where(VerticalScene.scene_id == scene.id)
+                ).first()
+                
+                if not existing:
+                    vs = VerticalScene(vertical_id=vertical.id, scene_id=scene.id)
+                    session.add(vs)
+                    print(f"  Assigned {band_slug} -> {scene_slug}")
+        
+        session.commit()
+        print("Band scene assignments complete.")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    seed_scenes()
+    assign_bands_to_scenes()