Roadrunner execs Mike Easterlin & Mitch Mills discuss how twenty one pilots have crossed over three top 15 Hot 100 hits in the past year.

"You could tell there was something special," recalls Mike Easterlin, president of Roadrunner Records and Fueled by Ramen, about first hearing the songs that would make twenty one pilots' album Blurryface.

His impression was echoed by fans, as the set soared in at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 dated June 6, 2015, marking twenty one pilots' first leading album on the survey. Over the next year, the duo (Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun) would score a monster alternative hit in Blurryface lead single "Tear in My Heart"; the pair's first two Billboard Hot 100 top 10s, "Stressed Out" (No. 2) and "Ride" (up 10-9 on the latest chart); and a fourth hit with new single "Heathens," from the forthcoming film Suicide Squad, which debuted on the July 9 Hot 100 at No. 14.

Billboard Cover: Twenty One Pilots on Their Musical Bromance & Fleeting Fame

On the latest episode of the Chart Beat Podcast, Easterlin and Roadrunner Promotions vp of adult promotion Mitch Mills go in-depth with host and Billboard co-director of charts Gary Trust about how twenty one pilots have ascended from core alternative faves to the mainstream.

"Tear," "Stressed" and "Ride" stood out from the start to Easterlin. "It's a really unique situation where you get to be that lucky to have songs speaking to you," he says.

Easterlin and Mills further delve into the budding success of "Heathens" (up 18-12 in its second week on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart), and whether it or "Tear" will be the follow-up pop single to "Ride" (depending on which song pop radio ultimately indicates that it favors). Also covered among other Roadrunner artists: Kiiara's ascent with her breakout single "Gold" and the status (and expected sound) of Paramore's next album.

A sampling of previous episodes:

Dave Cobb & Jed Hill on Americana Music / SiriusXM's Kid Kelly / Original MTV VJ Martha Quinn / RCA's Joe Riccitelli on Britney Spears & Justin Timberlake / Mike Curb / Hit Songs Deconstructed on Drake & Selena Gomez / Fred Bronson / Chart Beat Founder Paul Grein

Enjoy the entire latest Chart Beat Podcast and stay tuned for more upcoming episodes with label execs, radio programmers and personalities, songwriters, producers and more, all with the aim of analyzing why what's on the charts … is on the charts. And, to receive every episode automatically in your inbox, subscribe to (and rate) the Billboard Chart Beat Podcast on iTunes!