Audible Announces First-ever Audio-Only Competition Series, “Breakthrough”

Audible today announced Breakthrough, the first-ever singing competition developed and launched exclusively as a podcast. The series is executive produced by Grammy Award-winning and Billboard chart-topping artist/producer duo, The Chainsmokers and award-winning podcast production company AT WILL MEDIA.

Following a group of aspiring professional singers as they work through a series of challenges, this Audible Original will allow listeners to connect with undiscovered artists intimately and exclusively through their music and voices, as they learn from the industry’s best along the way. At the end of the season, one artist is crowned the winner.

“This show is all about community and passion for music, along with providing a massive stage for undiscovered artists who haven’t had the opportunity for their voices to be heard...without being judged for any other reasons,” said The Chainsmokers’ Alex Pall and Drew Taggart.

Rachel Ghiazza EVP, Head of US Content, Audible, commented: “This first-of-its-kind singing competition is an expansion of Audible’s mission to innovate within the audio medium while also supporting and spotlighting emerging talent. We’re thrilled to collaborate with The Chainsmokers and AT WILL MEDIA to bring this exceptionally fun and unique format to Audible listeners.”

“This innovative series will completely change the game for singing competitions. It’s an amazing opportunity for undiscovered voices to be heard; phenomenal talent can surface from any basement or bedroom, anywhere in the country, and we can’t wait to find these voices. We want listeners to meet these artists where they are—no fancy stages or audition rooms needed. A podcast lets us do that so well,” said Will Malnati, Founder & CEO of AT WILL MEDIA. “We’re excited to redefine the genre with Audible and The Chainsmokers, who are both longtime supporters of emerging talent.”

The series is created in collaboration with Will Malnati of AT WILL MEDIA and film producer Ethan Russell. The Chainsmokers will produce through their production banner Kick The Habit Productions alongside their partners, Adam Alpert and Dan Marcus.

About AT WILL MEDIA

One of the fastest growing independent audio production companies in the U.S., AT WILL MEDIA is an award-winning, full-service media production company with offices in Manhattan and Los Angeles, founded in 2016 by CEO Will Malnati. With decades of combined experience in storytelling and sound design, they set the pace for the podcast industry as a partner for production services and hub for successful and critically acclaimed originals.

Some of their collaborators and clients include The New York Times, Netflix, Apple TV+, Prime Video, Entertainment Weekly, GQ, Morgan Stanley, Bleacher Report, and Viacom/CBS.

Their originals include The Webby Award-nominated scripted series 14 Days with Felicity starring Jordan Klepper and Heléne Yorke, and the newly released Audible Original Sorry Charlie Miller starring Zachary Quinto, Michelle Buteau, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Ashley Benson.

AT WILL MEDIA is repped by Oren Rosenbaum at UTA.

About KICK THE HABIT PRODUCTIONS

Founded in 2017, Kick the Habit Productions is the film, television, podcast, and digital production company of The Chainsmokers. Their first theatrical feature film Words On Bathroom Walls was released in 2020 and is currently on Prime Video. They also currently have another feature film in development at TriStar pictures based on their hit song Paris and are developing projects at Showtime, MGM and 3BlackDot. KICK THE HABIT PRODUCTIONS is repped by CAA.

About THE CHAINSMOKERS

Grammy Award-winning and Billboard Chart topping artist/producer duo, The Chainsmokers, have evolved into a dominating musical force with a diverse repertoire of songs that have led them to become one of music’s hottest recording artists. Comprised of Alex Pall and Drew Taggart, their signature sound deftly reaches across indie, progressive and pop realms and has seen them develop some of the biggest breakthrough songs over the course of the last few years. Starting with their success in 2016 of 3 Multi-Platinum certified hits - Roses, featuring Rozes, Don’t Let Me Down featuring Daya, and Closer, featuring Halsey, which went on to become the longest running #1 single of 2016 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Since then, the group has released three albums. In April 2017, their debut album titled Memories…Do Not Open that debuted at #1 in the U.S. on the Billboard 200 chart. Followed by Sick Boy in December 2018. These albums culminated Multi-Platinum smash hits Paris and Something Just Like This featuring Coldplay, This Feeling, featuring Kelsea Ballerini and many more. In 2019, the duo released new their latest building album, World War Joy, which boasted Multi-Platinum certified singles Who Do You Love featuring 5 Seconds of Summer, Call You Mine featuring Bebe Rexha, and Takeaway with ILLENIUM featuring Lennon Stella. They rounded out 2019 with their headlining WORLD WAR JOY 42 city North American arena tour, while also maintaining their extended residency at the Wynn in Las Vegas. The Chainsmokers are currently working on their fourth album, known only to fans as TCS4. THE CHAINSMOKERS are repped by CAA.