Sebastian Cramer has been working as a research associate at the Chair of Innovation Management and Media since September 2024. In his PhD project, with the working title "Electronic Word-of-Mouth in the Entertainment Industry: Investigating Antecedents and Impacts of eWOM on Consumer Decisions and Commercial Success", he examines the mechanisms of electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) in the entertainment industry. The project is supervised by Prof. Dr. Reinhard Kunz and Prof. Dr. André Marchand (Universität Leipzig).
In May 2024, Sebastian Cramer completed his master’s degree in media management at Bauhaus-Universität Weimar with honors. He previously completed a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and history at the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena. During his studies, Sebastian Cramer was a research assistant at the Chair of Innovation Management and Media at Bauhaus-Universität and gained practical experience through part-time positions and internships in the fields of social media management and marketing. He also was actively involved as a member of the student council of the Faculty of Media.
Research interests
Sebastian Cramer's research focuses on the entertainment industry, with a particular interest in electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM). His current work examines how discrepancies between user reviews and professional critics’ evaluations influence the success of theatrical films, as well as the relationship between receiving and giving eWOM in the context of subscription-based video on demand (SVoD) streaming services.
Research interests
Sebastian Cramer's research focuses on the entertainment industry, with a particular interest in electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM). His current work examines how discrepancies between user reviews and professional critics’ evaluations influence the success of theatrical films, as well as the relationship between receiving and giving eWOM in the context of subscription-based video on demand (SVoD) streaming services.
Publications
Cramer, S., & Kunz, R.E. (2025). Digitale Empfehlungen als Signal für Filmerfolg: Eine vergleichende Analyse von Kino und Streaming. MedienWirtschaft, 22(2), 10–19.
Cramer, S., & Kunz, R. E. (2025). The Role of Electronic Word-of-Mouth as a Quality Signal for Film Consumption. In M. B. v. Rimscha, G. Ehrlich, & R. Riemann (Eds.), Alles rational? Der menschliche Faktor in Medienorganisationen: Proceedings zur Jahrestagung der Fachgruppe Medienökonomie der DGPuK 2024 in Mainz (pp. 1-15). Mainz: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Publizistik- und Kommunikationswissenschaft e.V. doi.org/10.21241/ssoar.101890
Presentations
Cramer, S., Kunz, R.E., & Marchand, A. (2025). Signaling under Uncertainty: How Multi-Source Review Inconsistency Shapes the Impact of Star Power on Box Office Performance. 22. Doktoranden- und Habilitandenkolloquium Management Science, Mannheim.
Kunz, R.E., Cramer, S., & Zabel, C. (2025). Investigating the Link Between Receiving and Giving eWOM: Insights from Video Streaming Service Usage. European Media Management Association (emma) Conference, Rome.
Cramer, S., & Kunz, R.E. (2025). The Impact of User-Critic Review Discrepancy on Theatrical Film Performance. World Media Economics and Management Conference (WMEMC), Warsaw.
Cramer, S., & Kunz, R.E. (2024). The Role of Electronic Word-of-Mouth as a Quality Signal for Film Consumption. Jahrestagung der Fachgruppe Medienökonomie der DGPuK, Mainz.
Courses
Winter Semester 2025/26
Study Module Innovation Management and Media (Master)
· Seminar "Entertainment Science"
· Seminar "Entertainment Industry"
Summer Semester 2025
Project Module Innovation Management and Media (Master)
· Seminar "Replication Studies in Digital and Media Innovation"
· Colloquium "Forschungskolloquium Innovationsmanagement und Medien“
Winter Semester 2024/25
Study Module Innovation Management and Media (Master)
· Seminar "Entertainment Science"
· Seminar "Entertainment Industry"