Xavier Collin

About Xavier Collin

Cultural manager, Xavier Collin holds a State Diploma in Specialized Education. He began his career in music by managing a friend and organizing concerts and festivals in the Lille metropolitan area, at the head of an association he founded and presides over (Créativ’Idées – 1988/1996).

Xavier Collin also worked as a radio host during his studies, writing and presenting the news program for Canal Sambre (Aulnoye-Aymeries), then M40 (Lille).

By producing their music video, he engaged with the English group “The Barking Dogs” and later became their manager in 1993. He also co-directed Woof Trade Publishing Limited (W.T.P.L.), their production and publishing structure. He then created a company to organize tours by partnering with Belgians and English: Tourbillon. With 800 concerts per year, the company gained recognition for its career development activities.

In 1999, one of the leaders of the Barking Dogs was nominated at UCON 99 in San Francisco for the educational entertainment site “Boowa et Kwala”. After a search for venture capital orchestrated by Xavier Collin, the activity was sold to UMMP to create Up To Ten (the leading site for ages 2-8). Xavier Collin became the sole owner of WTPL and Tourbillon.

In 2003, he completely stopped booking activities to focus on music publishing through WTPL Music, developing the catalog and signing new artists. Among them, Canadian K-Maro signed the summer hit of 2004 “Femme Like U”. Xavier Collin orchestrated the signing with Warner France and coordinated international releases (No. 1 in 17 countries) and concerts. This success allowed him to quickly develop his publishing company and produce artists like Ministère des Affaires Populaires and Axiom.

In 2005, he expanded production and label activities under the label: Booster Label, with 10 releases per year. A brand of WTPL to unify the marketing of music content (albums, singles, videos…) across multiple territories. An opportunity to continue his interest in digital platforms.

In 2006, Xavier Collin acquired the catalog of Loup du Faubourg through the subsidiary Regain d’Avance, which he transformed in 2012 into a music bookstore to provide additional offerings for audiovisual and image music. He also invested in Blopper, an audiovisual company in La Plaine St-Denis.

In 2010, after selling the company he set up for K-Maro in Montreal to Warner, Xavier Collin established a joint venture (Woof Canada Inc) with Michel Graton (Go Musique) to continue developing his activities in North America and the USA. He did the same in 2012 in Germany with his 20-year friend Thomas Franke (First Contact Publishing): Woof Germany UG.

For over 5 years, Xavier Collin has been on the Variety Commission of SACEM, a member of the Board of UPFI (Union of Independent French Phonographic Producers), on the board of FELIN (confederation of regional groups), and president of M.I.N.E. (Music Industry North Europe).

Alongside his professional activities, Xavier Collin enjoys participating in conferences and roundtables around the world (CMW, Sync Summit, MaMa, T.I.M.M…) and leads training sessions (IRMA, Arpège, CNFPT, Domaine Musiques, Issoudun, INIREP, University of Littoral…). His consulting work also leads him to address various topics.

Here is a glimpse into the journey of this atypical man built along the way. A professional from the field who possesses a sharp knowledge of networks and strategies.

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