After finishing third in the fourth season of The X Factor in 2012, The Collective signed a recording contract with Sony Music Australia. On 29 November 2012, it was announced on Australian breakfast television program Sunrise that The Collective would be releasing a self-titled mini album. Recording for the album took place in Melbourne on 30 November and ended on 3 December. The Collective was released on 14 December, as both CD and digital download formats. It features recorded versions of six songs they performed on The X Factor, including "Domino", "Footloose", a medley of "You Got It " and "Billie Jean", "Like a Prayer", "Lego House", and "Apologize". The album also includes The Collective's debut single "Surrender", and a cover of Wham!'s "Last Christmas".
Singles
"Surrender" was written by David Musumeci, Anthony Egizii and William Singe, and was produced by Musumeci and Egizii under their stage name DNA Songs. The song would have been The Collective's winner's single for The X Factor, if they had won the show. It was released digitally on 23 November, and physically on 28 November. "Surrender" debuted and peaked at number six on the ARIA Singles Chart dated 3 December and was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association, denoting sales of 35,000 copies. "Last Christmas" was digitally released on 14 December, as the second single from the album, but failed to enter the ARIA Singles Chart.
Promotion
On 13 December 2012, The Collective performed "Surrender" at the Crown Street Mall in Wollongong, New South Wales and signed CD copies of the single for fans. The following day, they performed "Surrender" on Sunrise, and a medley of "Silent Night" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" on The Morning Show. On 15 and 16 December, The Collective toured Westfield shopping malls in Woden Valley, Australian Capital Territory and Miranda, New South Wales with X Factor winner Samantha Jade, to perform for fans and sign CD copies of their albums for fans. The Collective performed "Last Christmas" at the annual Carols in the Domain concert in Sydney, New South Wales on 22 December. The Collective album debuted at number 11 on the ARIA Albums Chart dated 24 December 2012. The following week, the album descended to number 20. The Collective was certified gold, denoting shipments of 35,000 copies.
