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 VII, held at the at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles 11-14 February 1980, was attended by over 800 registrants from 14 countries, and was the first edition of the Forum held outside of New York.
At Disco Forum VII's climactic banquet on the evening of 14 February, Summer was awarded four honors including her fifth consecutive win for overall Best Disco Artist, as well as the present award, for Top Female Disco Artist. Summer's record label, Casablanca, shared the title of Top Disco Label in a tie with Epic Records, whose artist Michael Jackson was named Top Male Disco Artist. Summer's collaborator, Giorgio Moroder, was awarded Top Disco Producer.