diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index d87d4be..16f974f 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -15,3 +15,4 @@ spec/reports
 test/tmp
 test/version_tmp
 tmp
+node_modules/**/*
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7090aec..4577eb3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -184,6 +184,21 @@ MyModel.multiple_man_publish(:seed)
 
 3. Stop the seeder rake task when all of your messages have been processed. You can check your RabbitMQ server
 
+## Versioning
+
+Because you may have different versions of MultipleMan between publishers and subscribers,
+MultipleMan attaches **versions** to every message sent. This ensures that updates to payloads,
+metadata, etc. will not affect processing of your messages.
+
+In general, a subscriber will not be able to process messages published by a newer version of
+MultipleMan. We use **minor versions** to indicate changes that may contain a breaking change 
+to payload formats.
+
+As a consequence, when upgrading MultipleMan, it's always safe to upgrade patch versions, but
+when upgrading to a new major or minor version, ensure that you upgrade your subscribers
+prior to upgrading your publishers (if two services both subscribe and publish, you'll need to 
+update them synchronously.) 
+
 ## Contributing
 
 1. Fork it
diff --git a/lib/multiple_man.rb b/lib/multiple_man.rb
index 1a01653..52067b5 100644
--- a/lib/multiple_man.rb
+++ b/lib/multiple_man.rb
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ module MultipleMan
   require 'multiple_man/channel_maintenance/gc'
   require 'multiple_man/channel_maintenance/reaper'
 
+  require 'multiple_man/payload/payload'
+  require 'multiple_man/payload/v1'
+
   def self.logger
     configuration.logger
   end
diff --git a/lib/multiple_man/listeners/listener.rb b/lib/multiple_man/listeners/listener.rb
index dd5c5dd..d661d2d 100644
--- a/lib/multiple_man/listeners/listener.rb
+++ b/lib/multiple_man/listeners/listener.rb
@@ -32,24 +32,24 @@ def init_connection
     attr_accessor :subscription, :connection
 
     def listen
-
       MultipleMan.logger.info "Listening for #{subscription.klass} with routing key #{routing_key}."
-      queue.bind(connection.topic, routing_key: routing_key).subscribe(ack: true) do |delivery_info, _, payload|
-        process_message(delivery_info, payload)
+      queue.bind(connection.topic, routing_key: routing_key).subscribe(ack: true) do |delivery_info, properties, payload|
+        parsed_payload = MultipleMan::Payload.build(delivery_info, properties, JSON.parse(payload).with_indifferent_access)
+
+        begin
+          process_message(parsed_payload)
+        rescue Exception => ex
+          handle_error(ex, delivery_info)
+        else
+          MultipleMan.logger.debug "   Successfully processed!"
+          queue.channel.acknowledge(delivery_info.delivery_tag, false)
+        end
       end
     end
 
-    def process_message(delivery_info, payload)
-      MultipleMan.logger.info "Processing message for #{delivery_info.routing_key}."
-      begin
-        payload = JSON.parse(payload).with_indifferent_access
-        subscription.send(operation(delivery_info, payload), payload)
-      rescue ex
-        handle_error(ex, delivery_info)
-      else
-        MultipleMan.logger.debug "   Successfully processed!"
-        queue.channel.acknowledge(delivery_info.delivery_tag, false)
-      end
+    def process_message(payload)
+      MultipleMan.logger.info "Processing message for #{payload}."
+      subscription.send(payload.operation, payload)
     end
 
     def handle_error(ex, delivery_info)
diff --git a/lib/multiple_man/model_populator.rb b/lib/multiple_man/model_populator.rb
index f33d529..4a179e5 100644
--- a/lib/multiple_man/model_populator.rb
+++ b/lib/multiple_man/model_populator.rb
@@ -7,10 +7,9 @@ def initialize(record, fields)
     end
 
     def populate(payload)
-      data = payload[:id].merge(payload[:data])
-      fields_for(data).each do |field|
+      fields_for(payload).each do |field|
         source, dest = field.is_a?(Array) ? field : [field, field]
-        populate_field(dest, data[source])
+        populate_field(dest, payload[source])
       end
       record
     end
@@ -37,8 +36,8 @@ def populate_field(field, value)
       end
     end
 
-    def fields_for(data)
-      fields || data.keys
+    def fields_for(payload)
+      fields || payload.keys
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/multiple_man/payload/payload.rb b/lib/multiple_man/payload/payload.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a37d091
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/multiple_man/payload/payload.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+class MultipleMan::Payload
+  def self.build(delivery_info, properties, data)
+    case properties.headers["version"]
+    when "1", nil
+        V1.new(delivery_info, properties, data)
+    else
+        raise "This version of MultipleMan does not support the payload version supplied (#{properties.headers["version"]}). Please upgrade to the latest version."
+    end    
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/multiple_man/payload/v1.rb b/lib/multiple_man/payload/v1.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6ea3081
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/multiple_man/payload/v1.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+
+class MultipleMan::Payload::V1
+  def initialize(delivery_info, properties, payload)
+    self.payload = payload
+    self.delivery_info = delivery_info
+  end
+
+  def keys
+    (payload['data'].keys + payload['id'].keys).uniq
+  end
+
+  def [](value)
+    payload['data'][value.to_s] || payload['id'][value.to_s]
+  end
+
+  def identify_by
+    if payload['id'].is_a?(Hash)
+      payload['id']
+    else
+      {'multiple_man_identifier' => payload['id']}
+    end
+  end
+
+  def operation
+    payload['operation'] || delivery_info.routing_key.split('.').last
+  end
+
+  def to_s
+    delivery_info.routing_key
+  end
+
+private
+  attr_accessor :payload, :delivery_info
+end
diff --git a/lib/multiple_man/subscribers/base.rb b/lib/multiple_man/subscribers/base.rb
index c6ff924..01c920c 100644
--- a/lib/multiple_man/subscribers/base.rb
+++ b/lib/multiple_man/subscribers/base.rb
@@ -7,19 +7,19 @@ def initialize(klass)
 
     attr_reader :klass
 
-    def create(_)
+    def create(payload)
       # noop
     end
 
-    def update(_)
+    def update(payload)
       # noop
     end
 
-    def destroy(_)
+    def destroy(payload)
       # noop
     end
 
-    def seed(_)
+    def seed(payload)
       # noop
     end
 
diff --git a/lib/multiple_man/subscribers/model_subscriber.rb b/lib/multiple_man/subscribers/model_subscriber.rb
index ca70f03..806e432 100644
--- a/lib/multiple_man/subscribers/model_subscriber.rb
+++ b/lib/multiple_man/subscribers/model_subscriber.rb
@@ -10,9 +10,8 @@ def initialize(klass, options)
     attr_accessor :options
 
     def create(payload)
-      id = payload[:id]
-      model = find_model(id)
-      MultipleMan::ModelPopulator.new(model, options[:fields]).populate(id: find_conditions(id), data: payload[:data])
+      model = find_model(payload)
+      MultipleMan::ModelPopulator.new(model, options[:fields]).populate(payload)
       model.save!
     end
 
@@ -20,18 +19,14 @@ def create(payload)
     alias_method :seed, :create
 
     def destroy(payload)
-      model = find_model(payload[:id])
+      model = find_model(payload)
       model.destroy!
     end
 
   private
 
-    def find_model(id)
-      model_class.where(find_conditions(id)).first || model_class.new
-    end
-
-    def find_conditions(id)
-      id.kind_of?(Hash) ? cleanse_id(id) : {multiple_man_identifier: id}
+    def find_model(payload)
+      model_class.where(cleanse_id(payload.identify_by)).first || model_class.new
     end
 
     def cleanse_id(hash)
diff --git a/lib/multiple_man/version.rb b/lib/multiple_man/version.rb
index 14f1307..5a0633c 100644
--- a/lib/multiple_man/version.rb
+++ b/lib/multiple_man/version.rb
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 module MultipleMan
-  VERSION = "0.8.1"
+  VERSION = "1.0.0"
 end
diff --git a/spec/listeners/listener_spec.rb b/spec/listeners/listener_spec.rb
index 841dd9b..776aa51 100644
--- a/spec/listeners/listener_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/listeners/listener_spec.rb
@@ -44,9 +44,9 @@ class MockClass2; end
     subscriber = double(MultipleMan::Subscribers::ModelSubscriber, klass: MockClass1, routing_key: "MockClass1.#").as_null_object
     listener = described_class.new(subscriber)
 
-    connection_stub.should_receive(:acknowledge)
-    subscriber.should_receive(:create).with({"a" => 1, "b" => 2})
-    listener.process_message(OpenStruct.new(routing_key: "app.MockClass1.create"), '{"a":1,"b":2}')
+    subscriber.should_receive(:create).with(instance_of(MultipleMan::Payload::V1))
+
+    listener.process_message(MultipleMan::Payload::V1.new(double(:delivery_info, routing_key: 'app.MockClass1.create'), nil, "data" => {'a' => 1, 'b' => 2}))
   end
 
   specify "process_message should use the payload to determine the operation if it's available" do
@@ -55,21 +55,8 @@ class MockClass2; end
     subscriber = double(MultipleMan::Subscribers::ModelSubscriber, klass: MockClass1, routing_key: "MockClass1.#").as_null_object
     listener = described_class.new(subscriber)
 
-    connection_stub.should_receive(:acknowledge)
     subscriber.should_receive(:create)
-    listener.process_message(OpenStruct.new(routing_key: "some random routing key"), '{"operation":"create","data":{"a":1,"b":2}}')
-  end
-
-  it "should nack on failure" do
-    connection_stub = double(MultipleMan::Connection).as_null_object
-    MultipleMan::Connection.stub(:new).and_return(connection_stub)
-    subscriber = double(MultipleMan::Subscribers::ModelSubscriber, klass: MockClass1, routing_key: "MockClass1.#").as_null_object
-    listener = described_class.new(subscriber)
-
-    connection_stub.should_receive(:nack)
-    MultipleMan.should_receive(:error)
-    subscriber.should_receive(:create).with({"a" => 1, "b" => 2}).and_raise("fail!")
 
-    listener.process_message(OpenStruct.new(routing_key: "app.MockClass1.create"), '{"a":1,"b":2}')
+    listener.process_message(MultipleMan::Payload::V1.new(double(:delivery_info, routing_key: 'app.MockClass1, update'), nil, "operation" => "create", "data" => {'a' => 1, 'b' => 2}))
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/model_populator_spec.rb b/spec/model_populator_spec.rb
index b1998e9..7335ab3 100644
--- a/spec/model_populator_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/model_populator_spec.rb
@@ -7,10 +7,14 @@ class MockModel
 
   describe "populate" do
     let(:model) { MockModel.new }
-    let(:data) { { a: 1, b: 2 } }
-    let(:id) { { multiple_man_identifier: 'app_1' }}
+    let(:payload) { MultipleMan::Payload::V1.new(nil, nil, {
+      'id' => id,
+      'data' => data
+    })}
+    let(:data) { { 'a' => 1, 'b' => 2 } }
+    let(:id) { { 'multiple_man_identifier' => 'app_1' }}
     let(:fields) { nil }
-    subject { described_class.new(model, fields).populate(id: id, data: data) }
+    subject { described_class.new(model, fields).populate(payload) }
 
     its(:multiple_man_identifier) { should == 'app_1' }
 
@@ -38,7 +42,7 @@ class MockModel
       let(:model) { Class.new do
         attr_accessor :source_id, :id
       end.new }
-      let(:data) { { id: 1 }}
+      let(:data) { { 'id' => 1 }}
 
       its(:source_id) { should == 1 }
       its(:id) { should be_nil }
@@ -47,7 +51,7 @@ class MockModel
       let(:model) { Class.new do
         attr_accessor :id
       end.new }
-      let(:data) { { id: 1 }}
+      let(:data) { { 'id' => 1 }}
 
       its(:id) { should == 1 }
     end
diff --git a/spec/payload/payload_spec.rb b/spec/payload/payload_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c1b6615
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/payload/payload_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+describe MultipleMan::Payload do
+  let(:properties) { Class.new do 
+    attr_accessor :headers
+    def initialize(version)
+        self.headers = {"version" => version}
+    end
+  end }
+  
+  describe "::build" do
+    it "should assume v1 for a nil version" do
+      
+      payload = described_class.build(nil, properties.new(nil), nil)
+      payload.should be_instance_of(MultipleMan::Payload::V1)
+    end
+    it "should support v1" do
+      payload = described_class.build(nil, properties.new("1"), nil)
+      payload.should be_instance_of(MultipleMan::Payload::V1)
+    end
+    it "should fail on an unknown version" do
+      expect{ described_class.build(nil, properties.new("3"), nil)}.to raise_exception
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/payload/v1_spec.rb b/spec/payload/v1_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9053978
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/payload/v1_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+describe MultipleMan::Payload::V1 do
+  let(:delivery_info) {
+    double(:delivery_info, routing_key: 'blah.blah.create')
+  }
+
+  let(:payload) {
+    described_class.new(delivery_info, nil, {
+      'id' => {
+        'id' => 1,
+        'database' => 'app'
+      },
+      'data' => {
+        'id' => 1,
+        'database' => 'app',
+        'foo' => 'bar'
+      }
+    })
+  }
+
+  it "should return appropriate identify_by keys" do
+    expect(payload.identify_by).to eq({'id' => 1, 'database' => 'app'})
+  end
+
+  it "should return appropriate keys" do
+    expect(payload.keys).to eq(['id', 'database', 'foo'])
+  end
+
+  it "should include keys from the id even if they're not in the data" do
+    payload = described_class.new(nil, nil, {'id' => {'id' => 1}, 'data' => { 'foo' => 'bar'}})
+    expect(payload.keys).to include('id')
+  end
+
+
+  it "should construct a multiple man identifier id if none exists" do
+    payload = described_class.new(delivery_info, nil, {'id' => 1, 'data' => {'foo' => 'bar'}})
+    expect(payload.identify_by).to eq({'multiple_man_identifier' => 1})
+  end
+
+  it 'should store data appropriately' do
+    expect(payload['id']).to eq(1)
+    expect(payload['database']).to eq('app')
+    expect(payload['foo']).to eq('bar')
+  end
+
+  it "should have an operation" do
+    expect(payload.operation).to eq('create')
+  end
+
+  it "should let payloads override the operation" do
+    payload = described_class.new(delivery_info, nil, { 'operation' => 'update' })
+    expect(payload.operation).to eq('update')
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/subscribers/model_subscriber_spec.rb b/spec/subscribers/model_subscriber_spec.rb
index 7fbce9a..0e8a131 100644
--- a/spec/subscribers/model_subscriber_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/subscribers/model_subscriber_spec.rb
@@ -5,6 +5,13 @@ class MockClass
 
   end
 
+  let(:payload) {
+    MultipleMan::Payload::V1.new(nil, nil, {
+      'id' => {'id' => 5 },
+      'data' => {'a' => 1, 'b' => 2}
+    })
+  }
+
   describe "initialize" do
     it "should listen to the object passed in for to" do
       subscriber = described_class.new(MockClass, to: 'PublishedClass')
@@ -18,23 +25,18 @@ class MockClass
       MockClass.stub(:where).and_return([mock_object])
       mock_populator = double(MultipleMan::ModelPopulator)
       MultipleMan::ModelPopulator.should_receive(:new).and_return(mock_populator)
-      mock_populator.should_receive(:populate).with(id: {id:5}, data: {a: 1, b: 2})
+      mock_populator.should_receive(:populate).with(payload)
       mock_object.should_receive(:save!)
 
-      described_class.new(MockClass, {}).create({id: {id: 5}, data:{a: 1, b: 2}})
+      described_class.new(MockClass, {}).create(payload)
     end
   end
 
   describe "find_model" do
-    it "should find by multiple_man_identifier for a single field" do
-      mock_object = double(MockClass).as_null_object
-      MockClass.should_receive(:where).with(multiple_man_identifier: 5).and_return([mock_object])
-      described_class.new(MockClass, {}).create({id: 5, data:{a: 1, b: 2}})
-    end
     it "should find by the hash for multiple fields" do
       mock_object = double(MockClass).as_null_object
-      MockClass.should_receive(:where).with(foo: 'bar').and_return([mock_object])
-      described_class.new(MockClass, {}).create({id: {foo: 'bar'}, data:{a: 1, b: 2}})
+      MockClass.should_receive(:where).with('id' => 5).and_return([mock_object])
+      described_class.new(MockClass, {}).create(payload)
     end
   end
 
@@ -44,7 +46,7 @@ class MockClass
       MockClass.should_receive(:where).and_return([mock_object])
       mock_object.should_receive(:destroy!)
 
-      described_class.new(MockClass, {}).destroy({id: 1})
+      described_class.new(MockClass, {}).destroy(payload)
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/subscribers/registry_spec.rb b/spec/subscribers/registry_spec.rb
index 4b8e67a..b471a85 100644
--- a/spec/subscribers/registry_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/subscribers/registry_spec.rb
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 require 'spec_helper'
 
-describe MultipleMan::Subscribers::Registry do 
-  describe "register" do 
+describe MultipleMan::Subscribers::Registry do
+  describe "register" do
     it "should add a subscriber" do
       subscription = double(:subscriber)
       described_class.register(subscription)
-      described_class.subscriptions[0].should == subscription
+      described_class.subscriptions.should include subscription
     end
   end
-end
\ No newline at end of file
+end