ECONOMIC TIMES – flutrr, an Indian intent-led dating app, has partnered with Saregama, India’s oldest music label, to introduce music-based matchmaking. The new feature lets users connect through shared musical preferences and moods, using Saregama’s catalogue as a signal for emotional and cultural compatibility, with the aim of reducing swipe fatigue and improving match quality.
PROTOS – The hacking group ShinyHunters claims it has leaked ~10M user records from Match Group dating apps including Hinge, Match, and OKCupid. The data reportedly includes user IDs, IP addresses, match data, subscription identifiers, and some internal company records, and may have been obtained via the mobile analytics platform AppsFlyer. Researchers say the leak contains limited direct personal details but could still be used for highly targeted scams and fraud. ShinyHunters is known for extortion attempts, having previously forced AT&T to pay a bitcoin ransom, and has recently claimed other large-scale data leaks.
LTR – Join us for an in-depth discussion with Grant Langston, the original marketing lead and former CEO of eHarmony. Grant reflects on the early days of eHarmony, the unique challenges of building and scaling one of the most renowned online dating platforms, and the pivotal moments that saved the company from bankruptcy. He also shares insights from his tenure as CEO where he navigated financial distress, legal battles, and evolving media strategies to turn eHarmony into a success story. Moving beyond eHarmony, Grant delves into his current role at Warehouse Exchange and the transformative impact of AI on business operations. This conversation provides valuable lessons on innovation, resilience, and the continuously evolving landscape of online dating.
[**See the video here on YouTube**]
The December LTR was kindly sponsored by Courtland Brooks
SECURITYBRIEF – Nearly half of New Zealand online daters would consider dating an AI, according to Norton, with 48% open to AI relationships and 25% believing romantic feelings toward AI are possible. Many daters already use AI for emotional support, profile writing, flirting practice, and dating advice, sometimes trusting AI more than friends or family, even as most say they are uncomfortable when others use AI to alter photos or messages.
We’ve updated the rankings using the latest January 2026 U.S. data from Data.ai. Tinder remains the top-grossing dating app across both the App Store and Google Play. Bumble has slid to #3, with Hinge now ranking #2. Other leading apps, including Grindr, Yubo, Taimi, Raya, and Feeld, continue to place across the dating and social networking categories.
MSN – Left Field is an AI dating app featured on Shark Tank that aims to move away from endless swiping by focusing on real-life connections. Launched in February 2025, it had ~5K users at the time of filming and uses AI and approximate location data to suggest socially proximate matches. The founders secured $200K in funding from Kendra Scott and Alexis Ohanian in exchange for 8% equity plus advisory shares, signaling strong investor confidence despite ongoing public debate about location-based safety.
LINKEDIN – Thursday has partnered with PepsiCo to launch a branded singles night in London this February, combining an in-person dating event with Pepsi-branded cocktails. The event is designed as a structured IRL social format, with guided seating, short dating games, and limited capacity, and will take place at The Ministry in Borough. The collaboration follows a similar offline brand move announced last week, when Tinder revealed a large-scale European partnership with Sprite, placing the Tinder logo on hundreds of millions of cans across select markets.
OPW – This is a reminder that LTR Edition 48 will take place this Wednesday, January 28th, at 12:00 PM EST. In this edition, Mark Brooks will be joined by:
Following the interview, Mark will be talking about the Courtland Brooks influencer system. This is a system of ensuring that an influencer integration has the best possible chances of succeeding. Four years of influencer marketing experience wrapped up in 20 minutes.
This LTR is kindly sponsored by HubPeople.ai and Courtland Brooks.
LINKEDIN – Match Group CEO Spencer Rascoff highlighted a new rollout in select European markets where the Tinder logo will appear on hundreds of millions of Sprite cans, marking a large-scale offline branding push through mass consumer packaging.
NET INFLUENCER – Vybes, a Gen Z dating app, launched Vybes Villa, a creator-led reality series on YouTube to show how its product works in real life rather than relying on traditional dating-app advertising. The show features creators and real Vybes members, highlighting the app’s video-first “Vybe Check” model and focus on intentional, in-person connection. Since the premiere, the company reports an eightfold increase in weekly downloads and conversion rates of ~60%, positioning original content as a core driver of trust, adoption, and brand differentiation.