iTunes on Apple watch (on cellular away from phone)

Ok here is the rub and please read the entire post. I upgraded my iWatch from a 3 (GPS) to a 7 (GPS+Cellular) in late 2021. The reason was so I could go walking without my phone. Just me, my iWatch, airpods and nature! This is where all the problems started.

I cant leave my phone behind while listening to music as once the watch looses connection to the phone the music STOPS. Reset the phone while walking (always fun) does nothing.

Leave home with my airpods in my pocket, get out of range of the house and its hit and miss if I can get music to play.

Ask Siri to play music , some time she will find somthing, other times she will say " An error occued and I cant perform that action".

I have ample cellular coverage (the 4G network is regualry 60mbs+ and 5G regulary 400mbs+), a paid apple music subscription, a paid Spotify subscrition (I took out the apple music subscription as I thought apple may have nobled Spotify on my watch).

The other problem here is I also bought a iWatch 7 (GPS+Cellular) for my wife at the same time and she has worn it 3 times since November 2021 as she has no patience for stuff that will not work as described (what a waste of money that was)

Both iWatchs are update to date with the latest OS patchs along with our phones (12 pro max - 256gb)

I can't beleieve that I am the only person having this problem