NOT NECESSARILY THE MUSIC NEWS

Former Van Halen vocalist Sammy Hagar is in the process of launching his own record label, Cabo Wabo Music. The company, which will release a new Hagar album this fall, will likely be in conjunction with Beyond Music, although no deal has yet been signed, MTV Online reports. "After being in the music business for over 20 years and dealing with an assortment of weasels, I've concluded that it can't be too hard running a label," the oldest "Dude" in the world said… All-American rocker Ted Nugent—who has stirred up controversy this year with his onstage declarations of, "If you can't speak English, get the f--k out of America"—has come out in support of Atlanta Braves pitcher John Rocker. Nugent told Launch he called Rocker to offer encouragement. "I basically said, ‘John, stay on course. You're right. The reason you get standing ovations everywhere but New York is because you're not out of the loop. You are in the loop.'" Nugent said the two were going hunting this fall. Nugent added, "hopefully we'll bag a couple of homosexuals or maybe even some immigrants."… Naughty By Nature frontman Treach will star as Malik Bishop/Ghost in the animated series "The Contract." Treach said, "Being a rap star and a cartoon character are so similar, this ain't nothin'."… Primus' video for "Lacquer Head" has apparently incurred the ire of MTV Networks, which has refused to air the video because it "looked too pro-drug," a Primus spokesperson told Pollstar. "You've got Satan feeding drugs to a kid watching TV and then riding him to hell. How pro-drug is that?" a Primus spokesperson asked. Primus leader Les Claypool added, "I assume our youth needs to see a video about ‘breaking stuff' or the virtues of wearing a ‘thong' rather than a couple of puppets going to hell for sniffing gasoline. But alas, public service announcements don't help to sell Pepsi."… Britney Spears' latest Jive album, "Oops!... I Did It Again," has been certified four times Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, less than a month after its May 16 release. The sales pace is double that of Spears' debut album, "...Baby One More Time," which went on to be certified in March for sales of 12 million copies. Other new RIAA multi-Platinum awards include Dr. Dre's "Dr. Dre 2001" (Interscope), which was certified for sales of 5 million copies, and Jewel's "Spirit" (Atlantic), which was certified for sales of 4 million copies. The RIAA failed to mention how much Roxette's "Greatest Hits" tallied during the month… George Strait swept five categories at the TNN Awards Thursday (6/15), while Brad Paisley made a nice showing for a newcomer. Strait won the top award of best entertainer, as well as best male vocalist, best album for "Always Never The Same" and best single for "Write This Down." He also received the Impact Award, given for getting country music exposure in advertisements, television and movies. Paisley won the Discovery Award, given to a new artist with the most star potential, while his "He Didn't Have to Be" won for best song and video. Faith Hill won best female vocalist, and the Dixie Chicks were named best group or duo. The quartet Alabama tearfully accepted an award for charity work named after the late comedian Minnie Pearl. Kenny Rogers, who recently scored comeback hits with "The Greatest" and "Buy Me a Rose," won a career achievement award. Sacheen Littlefeather accepted the award in Rogers' stead… British pop legend Elton John attacked the leader of Scotland's Roman Catholics on Thursday (6/15) for his "ignorance" over homosexuality. "Cardinal Winning and his ignorance is totally representative of why people are turning away from the Church," John wrote in this week's edition of The Spectator magazine. The gay singer was responding to an article written last week by Cardinal Thomas Winning in which the priest said homosexuals were ensnared in "a lifestyle that can never respond to the deepest longings of the human heart." John, who lives with his longtime male partner, said he was astonished to be getting advice from a celibate individual. "As a gay man I am perfectly happy with my sexuality and my life. I can honestly say that the deepest longings of my heart are satisfied," wrote the singer. "Maybe not satisfied by altar boys, but satisfied none the less."