diff --git a/backend/melodies/models.py b/backend/melodies/models.py
index dfd5177..6000c37 100644
--- a/backend/melodies/models.py
+++ b/backend/melodies/models.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
-from typing import Dict, List, Optional
+from typing import List, Optional
 from enum import Enum
 
 
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ class MelodyTone(str, Enum):
 
 
 class MelodyInfo(BaseModel):
-    name: Dict[str, str] = {}
-    description: Dict[str, str] = {}
+    name: str = ""
+    description: str = ""
     melodyTone: MelodyTone = MelodyTone.normal
     customTags: List[str] = []
     minSpeed: int = 0
diff --git a/backend/melodies/service.py b/backend/melodies/service.py
index fa780e3..9ffcda7 100644
--- a/backend/melodies/service.py
+++ b/backend/melodies/service.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import json
+
 from shared.firebase import get_db, get_bucket
 from shared.exceptions import NotFoundError
 from melodies.models import MelodyCreate, MelodyUpdate, MelodyInDB
@@ -5,16 +7,22 @@ from melodies.models import MelodyCreate, MelodyUpdate, MelodyInDB
 COLLECTION = "melodies"
 
 
+def _parse_localized_string(value: str) -> dict:
+    """Parse a JSON-encoded localized string into a dict. Returns {} on failure."""
+    if not value:
+        return {}
+    try:
+        parsed = json.loads(value)
+        if isinstance(parsed, dict):
+            return parsed
+    except (json.JSONDecodeError, TypeError):
+        pass
+    return {}
+
+
 def _doc_to_melody(doc) -> MelodyInDB:
     """Convert a Firestore document snapshot to a MelodyInDB model."""
     data = doc.to_dict()
-    # Backward compat: if name/description are plain strings, wrap as dict
-    info = data.get("information", {})
-    if isinstance(info.get("name"), str):
-        info["name"] = {"en": info["name"]} if info["name"] else {}
-    if isinstance(info.get("description"), str):
-        info["description"] = {"en": info["description"]} if info["description"] else {}
-    data["information"] = info
     return MelodyInDB(id=doc.id, **data)
 
 
@@ -48,14 +56,16 @@ def list_melodies(
             continue
         if search:
             search_lower = search.lower()
+            name_dict = _parse_localized_string(melody.information.name)
+            desc_dict = _parse_localized_string(melody.information.description)
             name_match = any(
                 search_lower in v.lower()
-                for v in melody.information.name.values()
+                for v in name_dict.values()
                 if isinstance(v, str)
             )
             desc_match = any(
                 search_lower in v.lower()
-                for v in melody.information.description.values()
+                for v in desc_dict.values()
                 if isinstance(v, str)
             )
             tag_match = any(search_lower in t.lower() for t in melody.information.customTags)
diff --git a/frontend/src/melodies/MelodyForm.jsx b/frontend/src/melodies/MelodyForm.jsx
index 46dded6..f926330 100644
--- a/frontend/src/melodies/MelodyForm.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/melodies/MelodyForm.jsx
@@ -7,14 +7,16 @@ import {
   getLanguageName,
   normalizeColor,
   formatDuration,
+  parseLocalizedString,
+  serializeLocalizedString,
 } from "./melodyUtils";
 
 const MELODY_TYPES = ["orthodox", "catholic", "all"];
 const MELODY_TONES = ["normal", "festive", "cheerful", "lamentation"];
 
 const defaultInfo = {
-  name: {},
-  description: {},
+  name: "",
+  description: "",
   melodyTone: "normal",
   customTags: [],
   minSpeed: 0,
@@ -155,7 +157,9 @@ export default function MelodyForm() {
 
   // Update a localized field for the current edit language
   const updateLocalizedField = (fieldKey, text) => {
-    updateInfo(fieldKey, { ...information[fieldKey], [editLang]: text });
+    const dict = parseLocalizedString(information[fieldKey]);
+    dict[editLang] = text;
+    updateInfo(fieldKey, serializeLocalizedString(dict));
   };
 
   const handleSubmit = async (e) => {
@@ -836,8 +840,8 @@ export default function MelodyForm() {
           setTranslationModal((prev) => ({ ...prev, open: false }))
         }
         field={translationModal.field}
-        value={information[translationModal.fieldKey] || {}}
-        onChange={(updated) => updateInfo(translationModal.fieldKey, updated)}
+        value={parseLocalizedString(information[translationModal.fieldKey])}
+        onChange={(updated) => updateInfo(translationModal.fieldKey, serializeLocalizedString(updated))}
         languages={languages}
         multiline={translationModal.multiline}
       />
diff --git a/frontend/src/melodies/melodyUtils.js b/frontend/src/melodies/melodyUtils.js
index e3c7949..be0aab0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/melodies/melodyUtils.js
+++ b/frontend/src/melodies/melodyUtils.js
@@ -10,11 +10,36 @@ export function formatDuration(seconds) {
 }
 
 /**
- * Get a localized value from a dict, with fallback chain:
+ * Parse a JSON-encoded localized string into a dict.
+ * If already a dict, returns it as-is. Returns {} on failure.
+ */
+export function parseLocalizedString(value) {
+  if (!value) return {};
+  if (typeof value === "object") return value;
+  try {
+    const parsed = JSON.parse(value);
+    if (typeof parsed === "object" && parsed !== null) return parsed;
+  } catch {
+    // Not valid JSON — treat as plain string
+    return { en: value };
+  }
+  return {};
+}
+
+/**
+ * Serialize a localized dict back to a JSON string for storage.
+ */
+export function serializeLocalizedString(dict) {
+  if (!dict || typeof dict !== "object") return "";
+  return JSON.stringify(dict);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Get a localized value from a JSON string or dict, with fallback chain:
  * selected lang → "en" → first available value → fallback
  */
-export function getLocalizedValue(dict, lang, fallback = "") {
-  if (!dict || typeof dict !== "object") return fallback;
+export function getLocalizedValue(value, lang, fallback = "") {
+  const dict = parseLocalizedString(value);
   return dict[lang] || dict["en"] || Object.values(dict)[0] || fallback;
 }