Elvis Crespo says hit song 'Suavemente' can fund his retirement

Puerto‑Rican merengue singer Elvis Crespo explained that his 1998 hit "Suavemente" continues to generate substantial income through licensing fees and streaming royalties. He highlighted a $250,000 payment from a phone company for altering the lyric in a Super Bowl advertisement, and noted that the song’s use in films, events and commercials remains a primary revenue source.

Crespo said the ongoing earnings give him the option to retire from professional performance, as the royalties surpass the income from direct music sales. The track originally sold a million copies within a year, earned a Platinum certification from the RIAA, and still receives daily airplay worldwide.