Sara Bareilles, Kelly Rowland Tapped as Judges for Audible’s ‘Breakthrough’ Audio-Only Singing Competition

variety.com:

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Audible announced that Grammy-winning artists Sara Bareilles and Kelly Rowland have signed on to judge “Breakthrough,” billed as the first singing competition series launch exclusively as a podcast.

Bareilles and Rowland will mentor and guide the performances as well as the artistic development of five artists through a season of musical challenges.

The series is hosted by actor-singer Daveed Diggs, who narrate the contestants’ journeys over nine episodes. With the audio-only format of “Breakthrough,” the physical appearance of the performers is hidden from the audience and the judges — the idea is that the quality of the musical performance is the entire basis for the competition, which will culminate in one artist crowned the winner. “Breakthrough” is slated to premiere exclusively on Audible on June 1, available at this link. “I am so thrilled to be joining this group of wildly talented people for ‘Breakthrough’!” Bareilles said in a statement provided by Audible. “I love that the creative team are on the same journey as our audience — getting to know these artists without seeing them — developing a sense of their artistry through only their music and storytelling.” “I am so happy to be a part of this series that highlights and gives a voice to emerging artists,” Rowland commented. “Audible is an ideal space for this and Breakthrough is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to up-and-coming musicians.

I’m rooting for them all!” The “Breakthrough” contestants will be challenged with covering well-known songs that are meaningful to them personally, “stretching to genres outside of their comfort zones, and writing and recording hooks and full original songs,” according to Audible.