Between 1975 and 1980, Billboard Magazine hosted a series of eight International Disco Forums, weekend-long trade conferences for members of the music, radio and nightlife industries featuring equipment exhibitors, speakers and panel discussions. Disco Forum V, held at the New York Hilton Hotel 26 February-1 March 1979 and attended by 1,300 registrants from 16 countries and all 50 U.S. states, began with a speech from Manhattan Borough President Andrew Stein declaring 24 February-3 March 'Disco Week in New York'. Throughout the weekend, Billboard sponsored parties at the Roseland Ballroom headlined by entertainers including Voyage, Village People, Chic, Gloria Gaynor, Peaches & Herb and Sylvester. Donna Summer's record label, Casablanca Record & FilmWorks, sponsored a party at Brooklyn's Empire Roller Skating Center with Cher, who had recently joined the label, skating as the evening's hostess.
At Disco Forum V's climactic banquet, held the evening of 28 February, Summer was awarded five honors including the present, her third consecutive prize for Best Disco Artist. During the ceremony, Casablanca received the title of Top Disco Label and awards for production were given to Summer's collaborators, Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte.