'Conan' Music Producer Spills His Secrets On How Bands Can Crack US Late Night TV

Though the popular TV programme has showcased many acclaimed and up-and-coming acts over the years, Pitt says it is ideal for all bands and artists to already have some momentum behind them.

"We do like something to be going on whether it's critical or sales or online interest," he says of booking acts for Conan.

"That's sort of the first hurdle. I like to keep in mind what Conan would like, frankly. He's a real music fan. I can't worry that every artist isn't going to be up his alley because certainly we like to touch all the bases, but I do keep in mind that I want it to be something that if at least he's not a fan, he'll appreciate the performance and know why it was good, why it was booked."

Pitt is heading to the country as one of the keynote speakers for BIGSOUND and he says it was a no-brainer to accept the offer.

"For years I've been doing things here like SXSW and it's always a great opportunity to see a lot of good music and talk to people," he explains.

"Over the years I have booked a number of artists from Australia and New Zealand and everyone I've met from there seems awesome."

"To be perfectly honest, the attraction of travelling to Australia, it just seemed like too good an opportunity to pass up! Over the years I have booked a number of artists from Australia and New Zealand and everyone I've met from there seems awesome."

"I guess all I can offer is a little bit of insight into what I do and what it takes to do television in the States and shed whatever light I can on that."

With over 25 years in the industry, Pitt has also worked on juggernaut skit show Saturday Night Live during the time of the hugely controversial Sinead O'Connor performance in 1992, as well as the TV network debut of a little band called Nirvana.

"It was funny, I think I booked it in early December for a January appearance," he recalls. "They were obviously bubbling and it was clear there was something going on. But when we went for the holidays for three weeks and came back, they were exploding.

"The timing was just perfect," Pitt laughs.

"It was great, a little traumatic, I think, getting Kurt on stage, but it is a live show and if the camera comes on and there's no lead singer there, that's a problem!"

Pitt was also responsible for the bookings of a number of Aussie acts on Conan, including Courtney Barnett and Tame Impala.

"Oh my God, Courtney was phenomenal," Pitt says.

"And Tame were as well, they were both great. They were both totally happening by the time they got here so it wasn't a case of 'We need to keep our eyes on them', I think it was pretty clear everyone was keeping their eyes on them."

As for what kind of guidance he hopes to give punters at BIGSOUND, Pitt says getting on a show like Conan is just "one piece of the puzzle".

"These artists are already vetted, someone has already made an investment in them and made the decision that it's worth putting their music out there," he says of your typical Conan musical guest.

"I could put someone on and honestly if it just happens in a bubble and there's nothing else happening, it wouldn't have that much of a positive impact for them."