diff --git a/server/config/api-surface.js b/server/config/api-surface.js
index 9af5c93..d67485d 100644
--- a/server/config/api-surface.js
+++ b/server/config/api-surface.js
@@ -48,4 +48,13 @@ const JWT_ONLY_ROUTERS = [
   { path: '/api/tokens',      mod: './routes/tokens',       tenancy: true },
 ];
 
-module.exports = { PUBLIC_ROUTERS, JWT_ONLY_ROUTERS };
+// #73: AGENCY_ROUTERS - capability-restricted ('agency' scope) surface. Mounted with
+// bearerAuth + resolveTenancy + agencyGate (NOT tokenScopeGate). An 'agency' token is
+// OFF the read/write/full ladder, so tokenScopeGate rejects it on every PUBLIC_ROUTER -
+// it can reach ONLY this router, and only its allowlisted playlists in its bound
+// workspace (agencyGate enforces both). read/write/full tokens and JWTs are rejected here.
+const AGENCY_ROUTERS = [
+  { path: '/api/agency', mod: './routes/agency' },
+];
+
+module.exports = { PUBLIC_ROUTERS, JWT_ONLY_ROUTERS, AGENCY_ROUTERS };
diff --git a/server/db/database.js b/server/db/database.js
index 192dc5f..6e121c5 100644
--- a/server/db/database.js
+++ b/server/db/database.js
@@ -193,6 +193,8 @@ const migrations = [
   "ALTER TABLE users ADD COLUMN totp_last_step INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0",
   "CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS totp_recovery_codes (id TEXT PRIMARY KEY, user_id TEXT NOT NULL REFERENCES users(id) ON DELETE CASCADE, code_hash TEXT NOT NULL, created_at INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT (strftime('%s','now')), used_at INTEGER)",
   "CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_totp_recovery_user ON totp_recovery_codes(user_id)",
+  // #73: agency-token target allowlist (capability-restricted tokens).
+  "CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS api_token_targets (token_id TEXT NOT NULL REFERENCES api_tokens(id) ON DELETE CASCADE, playlist_id TEXT NOT NULL REFERENCES playlists(id) ON DELETE CASCADE, created_at INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT (strftime('%s','now')), PRIMARY KEY (token_id, playlist_id))",
 ];
 // Apply each ALTER idempotently. A "duplicate column name" / "already exists"
 // error means the column is already present (expected on a migrated DB) - benign.
diff --git a/server/db/schema.sql b/server/db/schema.sql
index de5d2f5..838ad64 100644
--- a/server/db/schema.sql
+++ b/server/db/schema.sql
@@ -530,12 +530,24 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS api_tokens (
     name            TEXT NOT NULL,                            -- user-given label
     user_id         TEXT NOT NULL REFERENCES users(id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
     workspace_id    TEXT NOT NULL REFERENCES workspaces(id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
-    scope           TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT 'read',             -- 'read' | 'write' | 'full'
+    scope           TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT 'read',             -- 'read' | 'write' | 'full' | 'agency'
     created_at      INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT (strftime('%s','now')),
     last_used_at    INTEGER,
     revoked_at      INTEGER
 );
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_api_tokens_hash ON api_tokens(token_hash);
+
+-- #73: target allowlist for capability-restricted ('agency') tokens. An agency token
+-- (scope='agency', OFF the read/write/full ladder so tokenScopeGate rejects it on every
+-- other router) may act ONLY on the playlists listed here, enforced at the single
+-- agencyGate seam. FK cascade both ways: revoke the token or delete the playlist and the
+-- grant disappears.
+CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS api_token_targets (
+    token_id    TEXT NOT NULL REFERENCES api_tokens(id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
+    playlist_id TEXT NOT NULL REFERENCES playlists(id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
+    created_at  INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT (strftime('%s','now')),
+    PRIMARY KEY (token_id, playlist_id)
+);
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_api_tokens_user ON api_tokens(user_id);
 
 -- ===================== SCHEMA MIGRATIONS =====================
diff --git a/server/middleware/apiToken.js b/server/middleware/apiToken.js
index e747e27..a9ca1dc 100644
--- a/server/middleware/apiToken.js
+++ b/server/middleware/apiToken.js
@@ -112,7 +112,31 @@ function requireScope(need) {
   };
 }
 
+// #73: THE single seam for capability-restricted ('agency') tokens. Mounted on the
+// AGENCY_ROUTER (config/api-surface.js) in place of tokenScopeGate. Two checks, no more:
+//   (1) only an agency token passes (a JWT or read/write/full token is rejected);
+//   (2) if the request targets a playlist, that playlist must be in THIS token's
+//       allowlist AND in the token's bound workspace - one query enforces both the
+//       target restriction and cross-workspace isolation.
+// Every agency capability route passes through here, so the whole primitive is proven
+// at one place. Removing the api_token_targets condition makes the bite-test go red.
+function agencyGate(req, res, next) {
+  if (!req.viaToken || req.tokenScope !== 'agency') {
+    return res.status(403).json({ error: 'agency token required' });
+  }
+  const playlistId = req.params.playlistId || (req.body && req.body.playlist_id);
+  if (playlistId) {
+    const ok = db.prepare(`
+      SELECT 1 FROM api_token_targets t
+      JOIN playlists p ON p.id = t.playlist_id
+      WHERE t.token_id = ? AND t.playlist_id = ? AND p.workspace_id = ?
+    `).get(req.apiToken.id, playlistId, req.jwtWorkspaceId);
+    if (!ok) return res.status(403).json({ error: 'playlist not in this agency token\'s allowlist' });
+  }
+  next();
+}
+
 module.exports = {
-  bearerAuth, apiTokenAuth, tokenScopeGate, requireScope,
+  bearerAuth, apiTokenAuth, tokenScopeGate, requireScope, agencyGate,
   hashToken, generateToken, displayPrefix, TOKEN_PREFIX,
 };
diff --git a/server/test/agency-gate.test.js b/server/test/agency-gate.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9a2e7dc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/test/agency-gate.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+'use strict';
+
+// #73 THE SEAM: agencyGate is the single place capability+target restriction is enforced.
+// Prove it confines before any endpoint is built behind it. Removing the api_token_targets
+// condition in agencyGate makes "non-designated -> 403" go red (the bite).
+
+const { test } = require('node:test');
+const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
+const Database = require('better-sqlite3');
+
+const mem = new Database(':memory:');
+mem.exec(`
+  CREATE TABLE api_token_targets (token_id TEXT, playlist_id TEXT, PRIMARY KEY(token_id, playlist_id));
+  CREATE TABLE playlists (id TEXT PRIMARY KEY, workspace_id TEXT);
+  INSERT INTO playlists (id, workspace_id) VALUES ('plA','wsA'), ('plB','wsA'), ('plC','wsB');
+  INSERT INTO api_token_targets (token_id, playlist_id) VALUES ('tok1','plA'), ('tok1','plC');
+`); // tok1 is allowlisted for plA (wsA, its bound ws) and plC (wsB, a DIFFERENT ws)
+require.cache[require.resolve('../db/database')] = {
+  id: require.resolve('../db/database'), loaded: true, exports: { db: mem },
+};
+const { agencyGate } = require('../middleware/apiToken');
+
+function gate(over = {}) {
+  const req = { viaToken: true, tokenScope: 'agency', apiToken: { id: 'tok1' }, jwtWorkspaceId: 'wsA', params: {}, body: {}, ...over };
+  let status = 200, nexted = false;
+  const res = { status(s) { status = s; return this; }, json() { return this; } };
+  agencyGate(req, res, () => { nexted = true; });
+  return { status, nexted };
+}
+
+test('#73 agencyGate: only agency tokens, only allowlisted playlists, only the bound workspace', () => {
+  assert.equal(gate({ params: { playlistId: 'plA' } }).nexted, true, 'designated playlist in bound ws -> passes');
+  assert.equal(gate({ params: { playlistId: 'plB' } }).status, 403, 'NON-designated playlist -> 403 (target restriction)');
+  assert.equal(gate({ params: { playlistId: 'plC' } }).status, 403, 'designated but CROSS-workspace -> 403');
+  assert.equal(gate({ tokenScope: 'write', params: { playlistId: 'plA' } }).status, 403, 'non-agency token -> 403');
+  assert.equal(gate({ viaToken: false, params: { playlistId: 'plA' } }).status, 403, 'JWT -> 403');
+  // body.playlist_id is honored too (create-item path), so the seam covers both routes
+  assert.equal(gate({ body: { playlist_id: 'plB' } }).status, 403, 'non-designated via body -> 403');
+});
diff --git a/server/test/agency-scope.test.js b/server/test/agency-scope.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1c6dcb5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/test/agency-scope.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+'use strict';
+
+// #73 SPINE: an 'agency' scope is OFF the read/write/full ladder, so the EXISTING
+// tokenScopeGate rejects it on every router by construction (auto-confinement). This is
+// the foundation the whole model rests on - prove it before building anything on top.
+
+const { test } = require('node:test');
+const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
+const Database = require('better-sqlite3');
+
+// tokenScopeGate is pure (no db), but requiring the module loads db/database - inject one.
+require.cache[require.resolve('../db/database')] = {
+  id: require.resolve('../db/database'), loaded: true, exports: { db: new Database(':memory:') },
+};
+const { tokenScopeGate } = require('../middleware/apiToken');
+
+function run(scope, method) {
+  const req = { viaToken: true, tokenScope: scope, method };
+  let status = 200, nexted = false;
+  const res = { status(s) { status = s; return this; }, json() { return this; } };
+  tokenScopeGate(req, res, () => { nexted = true; });
+  return { status, nexted };
+}
+
+test('#73 spine: agency scope auto-fails tokenScopeGate everywhere (off-ladder)', () => {
+  assert.equal(run('agency', 'GET').status, 403, 'agency cannot read on a normal router');
+  assert.equal(run('agency', 'POST').status, 403, 'agency cannot write on a normal router');
+  assert.equal(run('agency', 'GET').nexted, false, 'agency never reaches the handler');
+  // Contrast: normal scopes still pass - the gate isn't just rejecting everything.
+  assert.equal(run('write', 'POST').nexted, true, 'write still passes write');
+  assert.equal(run('read', 'GET').nexted, true, 'read still passes read');
+});