MelodyLane

How to connect a custom domain for your music

A custom domain for music lets fans open your smart links at your own address, like links.yourname.com, instead of a shared one. Choose the address, add it in MelodyLane to get your DNS records, paste them at your domain provider and verify. Three phases, about five minutes, plus a short wait.

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Fast track (done this before?)

  1. Add your address on the custom domain page.
  2. Add every record your page lists, in the order it lists them: first the 'Proves it's yours' TXT, then — after your address confirms — the CNAME and the remaining TXT records.
  3. Host is just links for links.yourname.com, _melodylane-verify.links for the first TXT, then _cf-custom-hostname.links and _acme-challenge.links for the padlock-stage TXT records.
  4. Press Check status after adding the first TXT. "Your address is confirmed. The secure padlock is still being set up" means add the remaining records — automatic checks keep retrying in the background. Cloudflare users: grey cloud.

Prefer to watch? Step-by-step walkthrough

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Phase 1 of 3

Choose your address

Use a whole domain (yourname.com) or a sub-address (links.yourname.com).

Recommended: a sub-address. If a Shopify, Squarespace, Wix or other site already lives on your domain, connecting the whole domain would replace it.

On the 7-day free Studio trial? You can connect a domain during the trial. Custom domains are a Pro, Studio & Lifetime feature, and you need an active plan to add or change a domain.

Connecting the whole domain (@)

For a whole domain your custom domain page lists a CNAME with Host @ pointing to customers.melodylane.io, plus TXT records. Most providers don't allow a CNAME on @:

  • Use an ALIAS or ANAME record pointing @ to customers.melodylane.io if your provider has one (Namecheap: ALIAS Record in Advanced DNS).
  • Cloudflare: a CNAME on @ works automatically via CNAME flattening — keep it DNS only (grey cloud).
  • GoDaddy and Wix currently have no ALIAS/ANAME at @: use a sub-address like links.yourname.com instead (recommended), or move your DNS to a provider that supports ALIAS/flattening.

Still add the TXT records exactly as your page lists them (the padlock one uses Host _acme-challenge).

Try it — see exactly what you'll type:

Phase 2 of 3

Add it here and get your records

Type your address on the custom domain page and press Add. At first, the page shows just ONE record: a TXT labelled "Proves it's yours", with Host _melodylane-verify.<your sub-address> (for example _melodylane-verify.links).

Add that TXT at your domain provider, then press Check status on your custom domain page. Only after your address is confirmed does the page list the remaining records.

Sign in to add your domain

What each record does

TXT (_melodylane-verify) — proves to MelodyLane that the address is yours.

CNAME — sends fans who type your address to your MelodyLane pages.

TXT (_cf-custom-hostname) — proves to Cloudflare that the address is connected to MelodyLane.

TXT (_acme-challenge) — proves to the security service that you control the address, so it can switch on the padlock (https).

Why two TXT records with the same Host? Two certificate providers each check a code. Your provider lets you add both under the same Host — add them as two separate records, don't merge them.

Example for links.yourname.com. Copy your real values from your custom domain page — every code is unique.

TXTHost _melodylane-verify.links · Value Ownership code from your pageStep 1 — Proves it's yours
CNAMEHost links · Value customers.melodylane.ioPadlock stage — points your address at your pages
TXTHost _cf-custom-hostname.links · Value Cloudflare proof code from your pagePadlock stage — proves the address is connected to MelodyLane
TXTHost _acme-challenge.links · Value First long code from your pagePadlock stage — turns on the secure padlock
TXTHost _acme-challenge.links · Value Second long code from your page, if shownPadlock stage — second padlock code (same Host, different value)

The padlock stage

Once your address is confirmed, the page shows "Your address is confirmed. The secure padlock is still being set up" and lists the remaining records:

  • CNAME — Host is your sub-address (for example links), Value is customers.melodylane.io.
  • TXT (_cf-custom-hostname) — proof for Cloudflare that the address is connected to MelodyLane.
  • TXT (_acme-challenge) — switches on the https padlock.

The padlock step can list a SECOND, different value under the same _acme-challenge Host. Add it as its own TXT record too — two values under one Host is normal. Don't merge them.

An automatic check keeps retrying in the background, roughly every 30 minutes, and flips the domain to Live once the public address answers with your page. You don't need to keep the page open.

When it turns Live, every smart link switches to the new address automatically.

Phase 3 of 3

Paste at your provider, then verify

Adding records in Namecheap

Namecheap in text (for links.yourname.com)

  1. Domain List → Manage → Advanced DNS → Add New Record → CNAME Record.
  2. Host links, Value customers.melodylane.io, TTL Automatic.
  3. Add each TXT record from your custom domain page as its own TXT Record, copying the Host exactly (for example _acme-challenge.links).

Using Cloudflare? Set every record to DNS only (grey cloud).

Pick where you bought the domain. Your records are repeated inside so there's no scrolling back.

Then wait and check

Usually 15 minutes to a few hours, occasionally up to 72. Press Check status on your custom domain page. You'll see one of these:

  • "We haven't seen your records yet" — the ownership TXT hasn't spread yet, or the Host is wrong.
  • "Your address is confirmed. The secure padlock is still being set up" — the ownership TXT works. Make sure the CNAME and every remaining TXT record are added; automatic checks keep retrying in the background.
  • Live — done! Every smart link switches automatically.
Go to Check statusPeek on whatsmydns.net

Links you shared before keep working too.

If something goes wrong

"That address is already in use."

Why: The domain is connected to another account or project.

Fix: Remove it there first, then add it again here.

Saved the records, but Check status finds nothing

Why: Changes are still spreading, or the Host field repeats your domain (links.yourname.com.yourname.com). Use just links and _acme-challenge.links.

Fix: Use the previewer above to confirm the Host value, then wait a few hours and check again.

Stuck on "padlock still being set up"

Why: One or both _acme-challenge TXT records are missing or have a typo.

Fix: Add both TXT records shown on your page (same Host, two different values). Paste each value exactly, with no spaces.

It worked partly, then stopped — or loads an old site

Why: An older A record with the same Host points somewhere else.

Fix: Delete every other A, AAAA or CNAME record with that same Host — keep only the CNAME to customers.melodylane.io.

Using Cloudflare and it never verifies

Why: The orange-cloud proxy hides the real address.

Fix: Switch the CNAME record to DNS only (grey cloud) until it shows Live.

My main website disappeared

Why: The whole domain (@) was connected instead of a sub-address.

Fix: Restore your old @ record and connect links.yourname.com instead.

Still stuck? Message us with your domain and a screenshot of your DNS settings.