A process for the manufacture of a magnetic recording medium by producing a dispersion of a finely divided anisotropic magnetic material and conventional additives in a solution of a polymeric binder in an organic solvent, applying a layer of the dispersion to a nonmagnetizable base material, then orienting the anisotropic magnetic material by means of a magnetic field, and drying the layer, wherein a compound of the formula (I) ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is straight-chain or branched akyl of 2 to 10 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 6 to 10 carbon atoms or aralkyl of 7 to 14 carbon atoms and R.sup.2 is hydrogen or one of the radicals given in the definition of R.sup.1, is added to the dispersion.