The Rolling Stone guitarist was appearing at the Cheltenham Literature Festival when he was asked about reality shows including ITV's "The X Factor" and BBC One's "The Voice", and their impact on aspiring young musicians, reported Digital Spy.
"I think it's a bit of a stiff thing to ask a brand-new artist. I mean, apart from being nervous and playing in front of a panel, they play in front of millions and millions of people."
Speaking about the hopefuls taking part, he added: "It's bad for their ego if they don't make it, or if they make a mistake, I mean it's magnified so much more.
The 68-year-old musician performed alongside One Direction during last year's "X Factor" final in December.
