Does Homepod Mini work on only on an iMac ONLY through Music?

If I select it from the menu bar (speaker icon), it may or may not work and no amount of tapping the pod or unselect/select will help (in fact, I’ve concluded that tap area is just a display for colored light).

So far, it seems I’ve been able to actually get any sound out that mesh globe, if I ...

First, go into the Music app.

Second, select the Homepod mini via the Airplay icon.

Third, go to the song, podcast or audio on the browser and click the start arrow.

Then hope it doesn’t snap back to the internal speaker or just not work.

I’ve already resigned myself to the fact that there is a one- or two-second delay from the time audio starts and the time I can hear it out of the speaker.

Thanks in advance for any advice or enlightment about using this object.