Audio Ink

In his latest blog, Amplifi Media CEO Steve Goldstein put together an outstanding how-to list for podcasters. Goldstein lays out seven specific items podcasters should focus on -- or avoid -- if they want to increase listeners and become a pro at podcasting.

iHeartMedia and NPR have come to an agreement that results in 260 NPR member stations streaming on the iHeartRadio app. All stations that join iHeartRadio will also have access to 50 percent of their individual iHeartRadio landing page's digital banner inventory for donations.

The companies announced Thursday that they will be launching a new program, The Source, Powered by Life Reimagined, beginning July 16. The show will be curated by stars from across the entertainment, sports, and fashion spectrum, including Arianna Huffington, Ricky Williams, Donovan McNabb, and Ashley Judd.

Tech sites are comparing the two new stations, or shows, to Apple's Beats 1 radio station. One show, called AM/PM, features artists like Jean-Michel Jarre and Terry Hall of The Specials discussing music they like listening to when the make music. The other station is called Secret Genius, which The Verge reports features songwriters and producers discussing major songs, and features more well-known artists.

On the second Jacobs Media podcast focusing on the connected car, former Ford executive John Ellis, who launched his own company called Ellis and Associates, talks about the increasing role of software in today’s connected cars. He discusses the impact of Apple’s CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto operating systems on radio in the connected car. LISTEN HERE

It’s a husband-and-wife show that has “mass appeal” written all over it. PodcastOne announced Wednesday the launch of The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Podcast, hosted by blogger and digital influencer Lauryn Evarts. Evart’s husband, Michael Bosstick, will co-host and provide the male perspective on a variety of topics, including branding, blogging, entrepreneurship, relationships, wellness, travel, marketing and social media, and more.

The company says U-LAB is a Music Innovation Center which will "incubate the next generation of artists and foster music journalism of the future." Univision says this collaboration between Uforia Music and Casa Limon is part of the company's expanding integrated music strategy.

iHeartRadio has teamed up with podcast hosting network Liberated Syndication, also known as Libsyn, which is home to more than 28,000 podcasts, including The Tim Ferriss Show, Welcome to Night Vale, LORE, the Joe Rogan Experience and others.

The satellite broadcasters announced Thursday that country superstar Garth Brooks will launch his own SiriusXM channel on September 8. Simply called The Garth Channel, it will be Brooks’ music – along with the artists who influenced him – 24/7, and curated by the man himself.

AdsWizz, in partnership with National Public Media, has launched Podwave, a marketplace for podcast-specific advertising. The company announced that Podwave will provide its publishers with ad creatives specifically tailored to podcast content, and creates a dedicated venue for advertisers targeting the in-demand audiences of premium podcasts while providing them with detailed metrics.