FAQ
I want to help - where do I start?
Go to How to Join and follow "Your first action." Short version: tell us what you want to own, DM @zaal on Farcaster, and we point you at the right group. If you want the map of how everything fits together first, read the org chart.
Is The ZAO a label?
Not in the traditional sense. A label signs artists and takes ownership of the work. The ZAO is the opposite - artists keep their work and own a share of the community. You get distribution, collaborators, and tools, without giving up your masters or your rights.
What's ZABAL?
ZABAL is an incubated project inside The ZAO - the builder engagement program (ZABAL Games, where outsiders come in to build) and the toolstack the team builds with. It is not the umbrella brand. The ZAO is the umbrella; ZABAL is one of the things incubated under it. There is also $ZABAL, the community token on Base - it carries incentives and governance weight inside The ZAO. The token is a piece inside the network, not the network itself. No financial advice. See the org chart for where ZABAL sits.
What's a fractal meeting?
A weekly gathering, Mondays 6pm EST. Members break into small groups and recognize the week's contributions; that recognition (Respect) carries governance weight. A full mechanics explainer is coming soon.
Can I fork this?
Yes. ZAO OS is open source (MIT) - you'd fork the whole stack: the gated client, the music player, the agents, and the research library. Clone it, point it at your community, and ship. Start at github.com/bettercallzaal.
Where do I hear the music?
The ZAO has its own music player and radio built into the app - hear ZAO artists at zaoos.com. An embedded player example is coming.