Carbon or boron is added into the CoCr layers of a multiplayer perpendicular magnetic media structure to reduce media noise. The perpendicular magnetic media structure has sharp interfaces between Co-alloy layers and Pd or Pt layers and significantly reduced exchange coupling. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the perpendicular magnetic media structure with carbon or boron additives is 700 .ANG. FeCo.sub.30.8B.sub.12/20 .ANG. TaO.sub.x/700 .ANG. FeCo.sub.30.8B.sub.12/20 .ANG. TaO.sub.x/700 .ANG. FeCo.sub.30.8B.sub.12/20 .ANG. TaO.sub.x/158 .ANG. FeCo.sub.30.8B.sub.12/17 .ANG. Ta/49 .ANG. ITO/33 .ANG. CoCr.sub.37Ru.sub.10/2.5 .ANG. CO.sub.y/2.5 .ANG. C/[(CoCr.sub.9)C.sub.6.8/Pd].sub.19/50 .ANG. CHN. [(CoCr.sub.9)C.sub.6.8/Pd].sub.19 means 19 layers of the bi-layer stack (CoCr.sub.9)C.sub.6.8/Pd. TaO.sub.x stands for surface-oxidized Ta and CO.sub.y stands for C oxides. ITO stands for Indium Tin Oxide and consists of In.sub.2O.sub.3 and Sn.sub.2O.sub.5 at 80 and 20 molecular percent respectively. CHN refers to hydrogenated and nitrogenated carbon.