Hello RuckerRod,
Let's use the applicable set of steps below to boot your Mac into safe mode to see if that persists from there:
Start up in safe mode
Find out whether you're using a Mac with Apple silicon, then follow the appropriate steps.
If you're using a Mac with Apple silicon
1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Press and hold the power button on your Mac. As you continue to hold the power button, your Mac turns on and loads startup options. When you see Options, release the power button.
3. Select your startup disk. It's named Macintosh HD, unless you changed its name.
4. Press and hold the Shift key, then click the “Continue in Safe Mode” button below your startup disk.
5. Log in to your Mac. You might be asked to log in again.
If you're using an Intel-based Mac
If you're not using a Mac with Apple silicon, you're using an Intel-based Mac.
1. Turn on or restart your Mac, then immediately press and hold the Shift key as your Mac starts up.
2. Release the key when you see the login window, then log in to your Mac.
3. You might be asked to log in again. On either the first or second login window, you should see ”Safe Boot” in the upper-right corner of the window. If you can't start up in safe mode, make sure that your Mac isn't using a firmware password.
You can also find those steps in this resource: Use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support
It can take a few extra minutes to boot into safe mode. Your screen may flash or flicker while in safe mode. Those behaviors are expected. Testing in safe mode runs a check on your disk, removes some cached files, and can help isolate conflicts with startup items. Once you've tested that behavior in safe mode, you can restart to leave safe mode.
Additionally, does the audio playback stop on your HomePod or the speakers for your Mac when this occurs?
Is this occurring with songs from Apple Music, songs purchased from the iTunes Store, or songs from another source?
Let us know, and we'll keep moving forward based on those details.
