A dual-layer magnetic recording medium including a non-magnetic substrate having a front side and a back side, a lower support layer formed over the front side and a magnetic upper recording layer formed over the lower layer, wherein the magnetic layer contains a volume concentration of at least about 35% of a magnetic metallic particulate pigment having a coercivity of at least about 2000 Oersteds (Oe), and a binder system for the pigment. The magnetic recording medium exhibits an orientation ratio greater than 2.0, a pulsewidth (PW50) value of less than about 500 nm, and a remanence-thickness product, Mr*t, of less than about 5.0 memu/cm.sup.2.