"We started off as songwriters and there were no videos in those days -- you had to work live to get a record contract," the star told Independent Television's GMTV morning show.

"It was all about the song. Nowadays it's so much more about the packaging and the visual aspect of it, the videos," he said. "And the songwriting aspect has gone out of the window a bit."

John offered advice to successful young musicians.

"Save your money, make sure you're getting your money, put it in the bank because you are just a commodity to these people," he said to CNN.