Popsters head for the charts without making a record

ESSEX FAUX-ROCKERS Koopa may well become the first ever unsigned group to score a place in the UK top 40 chart, thanks to recent alterations in the chart rules to include digital single sales even if no CD version is available.

The band's single "Blag, Steal and Borrow" - which is only available for download - looks like it could hit the top 40 this Sunday according to early sales figures, reports the BBC.

Koopa seem pretty chuffed with the new chart rules: "It does give hope for genuine talent," said singer and bassist Joe Murphy. "You can release a song and if you've got the fanbase and people buy it, you'll get into the charts - it's great." He reckons that other unsigned bands will be taking advantage of the new rules too, which could redefine the way chart music is as a whole.

The way most listeners are downloading the single is via their mobile phones, says the band's manager Gary Raymond. While most teens don't have a credit card to buy music online, they do have mobile phones, thus Koopa's solution: send a text in to a special number for £1.50 and the text-ee will be texted back with a code enabling them to download the song onto a computer.

Check out the band's MySpace here for a taste. µ