Ring head recording on single-layer perpendicular recording media was studied by a simple simulation analysis based on a loop tracing method considering only the perpendicular component. Although the assumed model was primitive, the simulation results qualitatively well explained the experimental results such as a decrease in output at high recording currents and its relaxation upon using a smaller gap-length head. The simulation results revealed that achievable recorded magnetization is, in general, much smaller than the saturation value due to a broad distribution of the ring head field, but a medium with a steeper slope in the perpendicular M-H loop could improve the recording performance. This was confirmed experimentally for the medium with a steeper loop slope, though the medium exhibited a larger medium noise at high densities. It was suggested that the development of perpendicular recording for higher output and lower noise could be performed for both media with a small and steep loop slope. The former should be improved by means of the recording head while the latter by the media. A large improvement is expected for both cases.