Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on 2026-10-06
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Long before The 615 Hideaway and its Radio Now platform, Sammy Passamano III was building a radio-promotion system for Rural Rhythm Records around a simple idea: getting a single to radio was only the beginning.
Passamano designed and operated Rural Rhythm’s bluegrass radio-promotion department, working directly with programmers and DJs to place the label’s singles in the hands of bluegrass radio. His responsibilities included servicing releases, maintaining radio relationships, following up on records, generating adds and reports, and tracking what happened after the music reached radio.
It was a system built around actively working records rather than simply delivering them.
“Sammy 3 ‘was’ our radio promotion department at Rural Rhythm Records. He was responsible for getting our singles to Bluegrass radio, maintaining strong relationships with our radio contacts, generating adds and reports, managing all our radio promotion activities and most importantly responsible for all the great success we enjoyed at Bluegrass radio over the years,” said Sam Passamano Jr. of Rural Rhythm Records.
A major part of the system involved studying the information coming back from radio. Passamano developed relationships with reporting stations and DJs while tracking which stations were playing a record, how often it was being played and which singles were gaining momentum. That information helped determine where to focus promotional efforts as a release developed.
“I first met Sammy during the Rural Rhythm years. During my time at Bluegrass Junction, he was always in contact, making me aware of new releases, following up on them, and developing ideas about how we could work together to promote them,” said Kyle Cantrell of BanjoRadio.com, a former Bluegrass Junction programmer and DJ. “He was always representing his artists well, enthusiastic about the music, and ready and willing to help me whenever I asked. He was, and still is, a thorough professional.”
The work also gave Passamano a close understanding of the artist’s side of the business. Among the artists whose music he promoted to radio was Elaine Roy, whose relationship with the Passamano family and Rural Rhythm eventually expanded into video production.
“The first time I met the Passamanos and Rural Rhythm Records, I knew we’d found a home,” Roy said. “The level of passion and excitement was really inspiring. Working with Sammy on all aspects of the business was always done with integrity and precise planning. Working on videos was also wonderful because he made me feel very comfortable as an artist to get to express myself. Sammy Passamano is a man of his word and I’m excited to be working with him again.”
As the music industry changed, Passamano expanded his work into producing, shooting and directing music videos and other music programming. He later worked with Ronnie Reno on television productions and became involved with Bluegrass Music TV, continuing his effort to connect bluegrass artists with audiences.
The underlying approach remained the same: get the music to the right people, work the release, pay attention to what happens and use that information to determine the next step.
Passamano is now applying that experience to The 615 Hideaway and its Radio Now system. Radio Now allows a single to be discovered by registered radio DJs before and around its release. On release day, the song moves into the platform’s Music Hub and Fans Chart, creating additional opportunities for discovery while extending the artist’s release cycle.
The platform is structured around an eight-week cycle intended to give radio DJs time to discover and play a song before release, provide fans with a release-day opportunity to hear and vote for it, and allow the artist to continue building attention after the single becomes available.
Artists will be able to upload as many as two singles per month. Membership is planned at $6.15 per month or $61.50 per year once the platform completes its initial stress-testing period and activates its paywall.
For Passamano, Radio Now is not a new idea created by technology. It is the digital evolution of the radio-promotion system he developed and operated years ago.
Artists and industry professionals can explore The 615 Hideaway, follow The Single’s Journey, visit the Artist Hub, or read the platform’s complete How It Works overview. Artists interested in participating can join here.
About Sammy Passamano III
Sammy Passamano III is a Nashville-based music-industry professional whose work spans bluegrass radio promotion, artist relations, video production, television, record releases and digital music programming. He developed and operated Rural Rhythm Records’ bluegrass radio-promotion department before expanding into video production and other areas of the music business. He is the founder of The 615 Hideaway Records & Entertainment and creator of The 615 Hideaway, an industry-discovery platform serving the bluegrass and roots music community.
