I'd just go about his releases in a different way, same goes for half of the industry. Anything can be profitable and largely depends on how much you're going to invest.
You know how some movies go straight to DVD and others are movie theater blockbusters with large promotional campaigns that you see on the sides of buses, billboards, TV, radio, YouTube, etc?
. . well in today's day in age not all artists warrant large scale release.
His music doesn't have to be released in the way that Lady Gaga's or Justin Biebers would but if they released his music the way they did say . . . Kreayshawn

(with a few CDs at stores that appealed to her demographics while being largely a digital release)
things could work out
(kinda like 50 Cent's SK energy . . if 50 can finance that he should be able to do the same for his music independently) . .even if it doesn't profit, he can continue to operate his career as a front for energy drinks and workout plans