A magnetic recording tape exhibits reduced magnetic flux modulation and improved signal-to-noise ratio. Providing a magnetic recording layer with a more uniform thickness can improve the magnetic flux modulation characteristic. For example, the magnetic recording tape may have a coercivity of greater than or equal to 2000 Oe with a magnetic flux modulation characteristic having a one sigma standard deviation of less than 0.06. In some cases, the magnetic flux modulation characteristic may have a one sigma standard deviation of less than 0.05, or even 0.04. Reduced magnetic flux modulation can support increased storage densities.