Magnetic recording media having a magnetic layer, wherein the magnetic layer comprises a continuous matrix material and a separate portion that is different from the matrix is disclosed. The matrix comprises a non-ferromagnetic material that is non-ferromagnetic in a bulk state. The separate portion comprises a ferromagnetic material and comprises substantially none of at least one component of the non-ferromagnetic material. One embodiment is a dual magnetic layer recording media including a lower magnetization (Ms), exchange decoupled magnetic bottom layer; and a high Ms, high magnetic anisotropy (Ku), magnetic top layer having exchange decoupled grains. This media enables reduced total magnetic layer thickness and higher signal, while maintaining high Ku and low media noise.