open source friendly streaming audio

[Gary Koskenmaki <garywk@cableone.net>]

Hi all,

Believe it or not I actually have an on topic discussion I'd like to
start.... ;)

I contacted one of the Spokane, WA radio stations because I could not
listen to their streaming audio and received a response asking what I
would recommend as the person was very unhappy with what he was
currently using.

What I'm asking here is, what open source friendly streaming audio
protocols are the best one's out there and why?  I would like to give
this guy an intelligent answer.  

TIA