Bowie 'would flop today', says artist's producer

David Bowie would have flopped if he had been a contemporary artist, according to the rock legend's former producer Tony Visconti.

Visconti claims Bowie was able to thrive in the 1970s when alternative looks and sounds were embraced, but would be shunned by a 21st century audience obsessed with image and conformity.

"It was the most creative period in British rock," he said. "If David Bowie started now, record companies wouldn't look at him and radio wouldn't play him.

"Back then if you looked unusual, you had a better chance of getting played on the radio. There's no reason why we can't have that same freedom again.

"Someone somewhere is imposing it and everyone feels they have to make bland music but it doesn't have to be that way."