The invention relates to magnetic recording media comprising a non-magnetic base and, applied thereto, a firmly adhering magnetic coating based on a finely divided magnetic pigment and a special binder mixture. This binder mixture consists essentially of 20 to 90 percent by weight of an elastomeric polyurethane which is soluble in a volatile organic solvent, is practically free of isocyanate groups and has been obtained from a linear, aliphatic polyester or polyether and a diisocyanate of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, and of 10 to 80 percent by weight of a vinyl chloride copolymer which contains 50 to 90 percent by weight of vinyl chloride units and 10 to 50 percent by weight of units of one or more diesters of maleic acid with an alcohol of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or of the reaction product of this binder mixture with a polyisocyanate of 6 to 50 carbon atoms. Magnetic coatings containing such a binder mixture are distinguished by improved surface hardness coupled with improved orientability of the magnetic particles, as a result of which such recording media are particularly suitable for modern video- and audio-recording instruments.