BMG U.S.’s Countdown Media has tapped Phil Sandhaus to develop new areas of opportunities for digital distribution, licensing, sync, merchandising, reissues, brand and media partnerships and target acquisitions for the company.

Taking the title VP of Business Development, Sandhaus will be based in the L.A. office, reporting to Laurent Hubert, President of Creative & Marketing. Sandhaus, who has been a Creative Manager for David Bowie and Head of Strategic Marketing and Product Development for the EMI-Capitol Group Entertainment Properties Division, will focus on the U.S. market.

Countdown Media is an international music library with studios in the U.S., U.K. and Germany. Its catalog includes the music of the Mediaphon, Dobre and Everest labels plus Vox Records, which has a licensing partnership with Sun Records.

Also a film producer, Sandhaus is working on The Misty Copeland Story for New Line Cinema/Warner Bros. and biopics and documentaries on Judy Garland and Eartha Kitt.

“Coming to BMG with a deep and varied career in the industry, Phil is serving a vital new role in broadening the opportunities for Countdown Media during this time of significant growth for the company,” Hubert said.