Abstract: A magnetic recording medium including a substrate, a magnetic side, and a backside. The substrate defines a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The magnetic side if formed over the first surface of the substrate and defines a recording surface. The backside is coated on the second surface of the substrate and is configured to decrease embossment of the recording surface. The backside defines a backside surface opposite the substrate. The backside surface having a skew less than about 0.5 and a kurtosis less than about 4.0.

Abstract: A method for producing a magnetic recording medium includes applying a non-magnetic back coat to a substrate, applying a magnetic front coat to the substrate, in-line calendering the coated substrate using opposed rolls, at least one of the rolls being a generally compliant roll, and off-line calendering the substrate using opposed, generally non-compliant rolls. The off-line calendering optionally includes steel-on-steel calendering and the method optionally includes only one off-line calendering pass and only one in-line calendering pass. Calendering the coated substrate optionally occurs using at least one nip, the calendering including calendering the coated substrate through a final nip including generally non-compliant rolls. Other methods, and magnetic recording media produced by such methods, also are disclosed.