Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the music producer claimed that record labels have become "snobbish" about who they hire, directly resulting in a different type of popstar.
"It's never been worse," he said. "You know, the major companies dominate and what they do is, they see a CV and if you haven't got 96 O Levels, you aint getting a job. It's as simple as that.
"What this is, is job protection. In the old days you got a job in the music industry because you knew something about music, or were passionate about it and people gave you a chance. Now when your CV goes through, they don't take you unless you've been to university full stop."
Asked if this was the same for new artists, he continued: "I think that when all the A&R people wear Jack Wills clothes, it tells you where they are going. It's become snobbish. It's become a snobbish culture.
"If you go back even 20 years, if you weren't greatly educated you became a boxer, a footballer or a popstar," he added. "Now if you're not educated you won't become a popstar - because you're never going to get the interview."
