Magnetic recording medium with dual layer front coating and method of manufacture

The present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium. More particularly, it relates to a coated magnetic recording medium, such as a magnetic recording tape, including a magnetic upper layer coated on to a lower support layer, and methods of manufacturing the same. A magnetic recording medium including a non-magnetic substrate, a back coat, a lower layer, and a magnetic upper layer. The substrate defines a front side and back side, with the back coat being formed on the back side. The lower layer is disposed over the front side of the substrate and includes a primary powder material and conductive carbon black material dispersed in a binder. The primary lower layer powder material comprises particles having a coercivity of less than 300 Oe coated with an electroconductive material. The magnetic upper layer is disposed over the lower layer and includes a magnetic powder dispersed in a binder.