A method and apparatus for reducing tape media edge damage in data regions. The present invention controls where popped strand occur by shifting the wrap turn around/stream points in the tape media to an unused region of tape. As data is written for the length of the tape, when a wrap turn around point is reached, the write current is shut off. However, the servo motors in the tape drive continue to stream the tape for a predefined distance past the turn around point. The head may then be moved transversely to acquire a new track. The tape may then be spooled in the reverse direction on the new track. When a wrap point is encountered, the write current may be turned on and the next track (wrap) may be written. This combination of steps may be repeated for each serpentine wrap on the tape.