You Write the Songs

You Write the Songs was a short-lived musical competition where three songwriters (either amateur or professional) competed on this weekly series for $1,000.

Broadcast
Syndication September 5, 1986-September 1987

Host
Ben Vereen

Featured Singers
Monica Page Cat Adams Kenny James

Concept By
Al Masini

Packager
Bob Banner Associates

Gameplay
Each had a song performed by a panel of five judges including a singer. a record company executive, a record producer, a disc jockey, and one of his listeners. The winning song returned to compete on the next show against two new songs. The five songs with the highest scores competed after 12 weeks for a grand prize of $100,000.

Trivia
The sings that competed for the championship were: Am I Losing You (written by Larry Hart), Jericho (written by Susan Pomeranz), First Time on a Ferris Wheel (written by Harriet Schock & Mischa Segal), For So Long (written by Chris McCollumn & Monroe James) and the winner: Everybody Needs a Dream (written by Tom Grose).

Each program also included a musical salute and chat with a popular songwriter like: Donna Summer, Stevie Wonder, Kenny Loggins or Burt Bacharach.