Formed by high school friends Kirstie Maldonado, Mitch Grassi, and Scott Hoying, the group got its initial start after its version of Beyoncé and Lady Gaga's "Telephone," recorded for a local Glee-related contest, started garnering attention on YouTube. The band then added members Avi Kaplan and Kevin Olusola, renamed itself Pentatonix, and auditioned for The Sing-Off.

Standing out for their unexpected stylistic range, which found them covering songs in such styles as electronica, reggae, R&B, dubstep, and more, Pentatonix ultimately won The Sing-Off performing Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger." They released a debut EP, PTX, Vol. 1, in 2012, featuring versions of "Starships" by Nicki Minaj and "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye. The inevitable PTXmas followed later that year, and another EP the following year, PTX, Vol. 2, featured versions of "Can't Hold Us" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and "I Need Your Love" by Calvin Harris. Late in 2014, PTX, Vol. 3 included three originals and four covers, including "Problem" by Ariana Grande and a version of Disclosure's "Latch" called "La La Latch." October of 2014 brought their second holiday release, That's Christmas to Me. In 2015, Pentatonix delivered their fourth studio album, an eponymously titled release of all-original material that topped the Billboard 200. The album's lead single, "Can't Sleep Love," debuted at number 11 on the Hot 100. In October, 2016 the group issued their second holiday themed LP, A Pentatonix Christmas. ~ Matt Collar