The spectroscopic properties and optical recording performances of a new spin-coated heterocyclic azo dye-doped PMMA thin film were studied. A strong and broad absorption band was observed in the region of 400～550 nm. The optical recording performances of the azo dye-doped polymer thin film showed that low power Ar+ laser irradiation could initiate a relatively high reflectivity change, indicating that the thin film is a promising optical recording medium.