A method of manufacturing magnetic recording media, comprising sequential steps of: (a) providing an apparatus for manufacturing the media; (b) supplying the apparatus with at least one substrate for the media; (c) forming a magnetic recording layer on the at least one substrate in a first portion of the apparatus, the magnetic recording layer including a surface; (d) treating the surface of the magnetic recording layer with an ionized oxygen-containing plasma in a second portion of the apparatus to form a plasma oxidized surface layer; and (e) forming a protective overcoat layer on the plasma oxidized surface layer of the magnetic recording layer in a third portion of the apparatus.