'Hitmakers' review: PBS documents music in the digital age

WHAT IT'S ABOUT The Internet has changed music forever, of course, but how exactly? That's the mission of "Hitmakers," which looks at trends in popular music history, and how every rule, idea, impulse and -- yes -- hit has been completely upended in the digital age. Quite a few artists are quickly (and superficially) profiled here, including Lorde and The Roots, and some major power figures, too, including Atlantic Records chief Craig Kallman.

MY SAY We all know the Internet (especially YouTube) has changed music, big time. Two words: "Justin" and "Bieber." Or you could also add "Ed Sheeran" (who has put so much of his music on the Web), or even "Taylor Swift," who just took hers off Spotify, resulting in headlines and fan anguish.

The great and ongoing digital revolution has swept up everything in its path -- but the changes to music may be the most profound and, to fans, the most gratifying. "Hitmakers" gets into all of that, but does tend to lose its way, probably because the topic is so vast and complex.

Therefore, best to approach this film as a series of short and highly informative vignettes -- on people like producer Seymour Stein or the great Melissa Etheridge, or EDM giant Steve Aoki, whose sound was supercharged by the Internet, and now seems to be consuming it.

The gaps, however, are rather breathtaking: Not a word on country, for example, and zip on Kanye West, or rap, or name-your-favorite-artist. (I had really hoped for a treatise on Sonic Youth, or maybe Bob Mould -- no such luck!)

But "Hitmakers," which has a clear and obvious love of the subject, does offer lots of interesting tidbits and provides genuine perspective on what's happening right now. Notably this: Streaming is the fastest growing part of music consumption and is putting the power (and profits) squarely in the hands of artists. Again, for fans, that's just one more happy development.

GRADE B+

By Verne J Gay

Verne.Gay@newsday.com@vernejgay

Verne J Gay is the television critic