me versus the NY Times versus the RIAA versus everybody else

Is it a "mixtape" or a "mixed tape"?
Is it a "mix CD" or a "mixed CD"?

For years I've been living, loving, working, and dreaming with the belief that I've been making mixtapes and mix CD's. This summer, though, I've had no less than three correspondents refer to "mixed tapes" or "mixed CD's". I can see where I might have been led astray: said quickly enough, "mixed tape" can sound like "mix tape" and "mix CD" and sound like "mixed CD". Try it; it's fun!

But then in the NY Times today, there's an article about the RIAA-orchestrated raid on Mondo Kim's in NYC. The Times gives a pretty good background on hip-hop "mixtapes" ... and then quotes an RIAA press release which refers to the evil of these "mixed tapes". I think the press release is kinda funny if you imagine Mr. Burns reading it and saying "mixed tapes" in the same over-pronounced way he says, "I'm really enjoying this 'iced cream'."

The press release brings up an important issue, though: what the hell is it, a "mixtape" or a "mixed tape"? And that prompts the follow-up: "mix CD" or "mixed CD"? And that prompts the question: was this a bigger waste of time to write, or a bigger waste of time to read?