It’s often said that the annual World Of Bluegrass convention in Nashville is primarily about the business of bluegrass music, and our experience this year has once again shown that to be true. IBMA week provides a great opportunity for networking, dealmaking and negotiations with all the necessary parties close at hand.
One such piece of business conducted last week was a new agreement between country/bluegrass luminary Marty Raybon and Rural Rhyhm Records. Marty’s next album will be released on Rural Rhythm in 2012. The project has been described to us simply as “powerful,” though both Raybon and the label are tight-lipped about further details.
When the label moved their headquarters from California too Nashville this summer, a chief reason given was to enable better communication with artists, and the wider country and bluegrass industry at large. The Passamano family has now followed the music business from their native New Jersey, to southern California, and now middle Tennessee. In a formal statement about the signing, Raybon indicated that the family nature of the company had a big impact on his decision.
“The excitement of finding a home in the wonderful family of Rural Rhythm is truly more than words could ever express for me. To know that It’s All About The Music is not just a slogan or catchy title – it is the vision of Sam Passamano II and the whole Rural Rhythm team.
Helen Keller was asked – ‘What would be worst than being born blind?’ and she replied – ‘To have sight with no vision.’ As a singer-songwriter, knowing the belief one has in you and a vision for the whole world to hear your music is what every artist dreams of.
I am not just proud to be a part of a record label but honored, to be a member of the family at Rural Rhythm.”
We’ll look forward to hearing more details about the new record.
