system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why are pianists celebrated for performing other people's work (Beethoven, etc) but musicians who "cover" other artists are sort of looked down on?

I'm pretty much asking why all rich/famous pianists make a living performing other people's music instead of creating their own like musicians do.
gpt
Because the "classical" music hasn't been recorded, it's written on paper, so it's up to each pianist or orchestra to decide how THEY think it SHOULD sound. New music HAS been recorded, so aside from learning it and listening, there's not as much skill involved.
Not saying it's not skillful to be a cover artist, just sometimes it's easier than writing your own.