A magnetic head including a media heating device that is preferably fabricated within the magnetic head structure. The heating device preferably includes an electrical heating element and electrical leads, where an insulation layer disposed above the heating element is 2 to 4 times thicker than the heating element. The electrical leads preferably overlay the heating element in an overlay area of at least 1 .mu.m.sup.2. The heating device may be fabricated upon the surface of the magnetic head substrate prior to the fabrication of magnetic head components. The media heating device is fabricated with diffusion barrier layers and/or adhesion layers beneath the heating device layers, between heating device layers and/or above the heating device layers.