BEE GEES star ROBIN GIBB has slammed record executives for valuing looks over musical talent.

The Stayin' Alive hitmaker insists there is too much emphasis on image over skill - and is adamant the music industry is missing out on exciting new artists as a result.

He says, "It's harder these days for new acts, especially new acts who write songs. If they're not particularly good-looking for instance, they start out very early being sent away by record companies because they don't look like models.

"It's quite disgusting. They may be great songwriters and in any other period they'd have been signed. We need to turn that around and get great songs by new, young acts and get British acts getting hit records in America again."