You don't know his record deal.
Mark left Warner for Universal a few years ago (Privateering)
He didn't left Warner for a worse deal and Universal is known for giving a bit more freedom to big artists.
Mark could have very well dealt a no obligations contract, no obligation to deliver an album every 2 or 3 years and such details.
Himself and Guy produce the records, they do the mixing and all that stuff, there's basically no one outside MK's close circle and nobody from the label involved in the whole creative and production process.
He owns the studio, he owns the equipment and he has all the money anyone could dream of. Which means he doesn't need any help or money advance from the label, and that's how a clever and free artist like MK would handle things.
In his case the label is there to distribute the record, not to help him do it. Don't owe anything to anyone and you're a free artist.
The way I see it, Universal distributes the record when it's done, and it's done when MK gives the finished product to the label.