Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium comprises a hard magnetic recording layer, a soft magnetic layer, and a non-magnetic intermediate layer between the hard magnetic recording-layer and the soft magnetic layer, wherein the hard magnetic recording layer includes an hcp-structured layer and a Co-alloy layer which may be either a Co3Pt-alloy layer or an hcp CoPt-based alloy layer positioned adjacent to the hcp-structured layer. A magnetic disc drive storage system that includes the perpendicular magnetic recording medium is also included.