A magnetic recording medium includes at least a soft under layer, a perpendicular magnetic recording film and a protective film that are stacked on a nonmagnetic substrate. The nonmagnetic substrate is a disk of silicon having a diameter of 48 mm or less. A method for the production of the magnetic recording medium includes exerting a bias onto the silicon substrate when forming the protective film. A magnetic recording medium can be produced using the method. A magnetic recording and reproducing device can be produced using the magnetic recording medium and a magnetic head for recording and reproducing information in the magnetic recording medium. The magnetic head is a magnetic monopole head.