Johnta Austin, “The One That Got Away” (So So Def/Island). The songwriter behind Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together,” Aaliyah’s “Miss You,” and Mary J. Blige’s “Be Without You” has probably deserved a clearer path to success as a recording artist. Three singles issued across 2005 and 2006 that went nowhere, as well as Jermaine Dupri’s transplanting of himself and the So So Def label from Virgin to Island, has slowed the release of Austin’s debut album. (Austin was also briefly signed to RCA as a young teen.) With Ocean Drive’s release date apparently set for March 4, Austin steps out with his fourth single, a mellow heartbroken track that is too sophisticated and not bold enough to do any chart-topping right now — and it’s apparent he doesn’t really do big choruses. This is, however, as moving as anything ahead of it. (Dig Ocean Drive’s yacht soul-ish album cover.)

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The only Latin artist scheduled to appear on this weekend’s Grammy broadcast, Juanes is in the midst of a tremendous run of success. The lead single from his recent album La Vida…Es un Ratico, “Me Enamora,” has logged 20 weeks atop Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart — nearly a half-year — and its follow-up single, “Gotas de Agua Dulce,” which rose to the number three slot this week, is likely to overtake it in the near future. No stranger to awe-inspiring success, Juanes set a new record in 2002 when his second album, Un Día Normal, spent 92 weeks — almost two years — in the Top Ten of Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart; moreover, that album’s lead single, “A Dios Le Pido,” was a chart-topper in 12 different countries and spent 47 consecutive weeks on the Hot Latin Tracks chart. In terms of charting longevity, “Me Enamora” may yet challenge “A Dios Le Pido” — just another half-year to go!

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Dear Jayne, “Rain” (Music Line/Capitol). This Atlanta-based female trio might’ve preferred to have this song issued during the spring or summer instead of the dead of winter, but it sounds like it has enough staying power to be on heavy rotation through the warmer seasons. If the production reminds you of J Holiday’s “Bed” and The-Dream’s album track “Purple Kisses,” with that fluttering interstellar glide, it’s probably because they all share the same producer: Carlos McKinney (aka L.O.S., Supaproducer L.O.S.). McKinney played keyboards with Inner City (”Good Life”), performed and recorded with the likes of Wallace Roney and Elvin Jones, scored New York Undercover with James Mtume, and worked his way through the major-label R&B ranks (his best-known work prior to 2007 might be Boyz II Men and Faith Evans’ “Relax Your Mind”). Now he’s one of the hottest producers around.

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Eight R&B songs entered the January 19 edition of Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, including a long-awaited return (from Usher), a(nother) bid to get back on track (from Janet), a heartstring-tugging ballad that might as well invade the Latin Regional Mexican Airplay chart (from Timbaland and OneRepublic), a song titled “Diamond Girl” that unfortunately is not a Nice & Wild cover (from Ryan Leslie, pictured), and at least two entries with lyrics featuring the ever-popular body-as-guitar metaphor (Elisabeth Withers, Janet again).

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